DaDa has proudly welcomed disabled artists to the Bluecoat since moving into the building in 2008 when the contemporary arts wing first opened. As part of DaDa’s 40th anniversary festival ‘DDFI40: Rage, A Quiet Riot’, our long history with the Bluecoat will be celebrated through exhibitions and events presented by local, national and international d/Deaf and disabled artists.
Core activity will take place across the weekend of 22nd & 23rd March, known as our ‘Bluecoat Weekender’, but some exhibits and events will be open throughout the festival running from 8th - 31st March. See individual event information below for further details.
Visit our events page to see the full programme for #DDFI40.
DaDaFest@The Bluecoat
The Bluecoat has a long relationship with deaf and disability arts organisation DaDa, which has been based in the building since 2008. As part of DaDa’s 40th birthday year, this archive exhibition charts the various festivals, events and exhibitions hosted at the arts centre.
Booking info: No booking required, just pop in during Bluecoat opening hours.
Painting in Light
Artist Zoe Partington’s light sculptures feature slogans which have relevance to disability activism and issues disabled people experience, and they will be displayed across the city during DDFI40. The work conveys stories, messages and insights into disabled people’s struggles in a world where society still excludes us from the mainstream. One of Zoe’s neon sculptures will be on display at the Bluecoat throughout DDFI40.
You will also be able to see Zoe's sculptures at venues across the city region, including: The Bluecoat, The Palm House in Sefton Park, The Williamson Art Gallery in Birkenhead, Liverpool Lime Street Station, Shakespeare North, Citizens Advice Wavertree and more.
Booking info: No booking required, just pop in during Bluecoat opening hours. Or visit the other sculptures during the festival at the venues listed.
8th & 9th March and 22nd & 23rd March
DDFI40 Festival Hub and Quiet Space
11am – 5pm: Bistro
Come and join us at the DDFI40 Hub at the Bluecoat. A central sanctuary open to artists and audiences for networking, informal meetings, chill time, discussion & reflection, and taking time out. Open all day, no booking necessary.
Booking info: No booking required, just pop in during Bluecoat opening hours.
11am – 5pm: Bluecoat Performance Space
Live Activations: 1.30-2.30pm on 22nd; 12-1pm & 3.30-4.30pm on 23rd
‘Rage Reactor’ sees artist Zack Mennell working with their archive of NHS and DWP letters in (para)site, working more with the estranged archive of collective family photos. The performance will entangle poetic explorations of personal childhood trauma with the trauma that the civil nuclear industry enacts on the land - considering lineage and generational cycles of trauma. Asking broad questions such as: What does this leave us with? Where does this leave us? Where can we go from here? The installation will be altered after each activation. Audiences are invited to move around the installation, stay a while, leave and return freely during the installation and activations.
Access: BSL interpretation and Audio Description will be provided at this event.
Age Guidance: 16+ Contains nudity and adult themes
Booking info: While you can pop in to visit the installation during this weekend, there will also be 3 performative activations during this commissioned piece installation. Book tickets for the live activations here
11am – 4pm: Bluecoat Garden
Join this interactive performance with artist Dora Colquhoun in the Garden at the Bluecoat. The fictional NBFS (The National Bureau For Sitting) will assess members of the public to see whether they can take a seat in a very comfortable Chesterfield chair.‘Would you Like a Seat?’ looks at archaic systems that enables some to thrive and some to survive andasks the question ‘Why do we allow some people access and not others?
Access: BSL interpretation will be provided, and performances will include some Audio Description.
Age Guidance: 14+ This is a 1:1 Performance experience that lasts approximately 15 mins.
Booking info: no booking required, just pop in during performance times. Please note, queuing for this interactive piece may be required at busy periods.
22nd March
Storytime with Natalie Denny
11am-12pm: Bluecoat Festival Hub
Join deaf author Natalie Denny for a special DaDaFest International 40 Storytime where Natalie will share her much loved ‘Keisha Jones’ series, telling the story of a young girl finding her activist voice. This family event will inspire listeners young and young at heart to spot and speak out against injustice, finding that ‘quiet riot’ our festival theme alludes to.
Access: Please mention when booking any access requirements.
Age Guidance: This event is family friendly and open to all.
Cost: FREE
Booking info: Spaces are limited, so please book a ticket via eventbrite to avoid disappointment.
Pop-Up Poetry with Amina Atiq
12 – 3pm: Bluecoat Garden / Courtyard
Join local poet Amina Atiq for performances of her work, developed especially for DaDaFest International 40 reflecting on the theme of ‘Rage’, along with some of her existing poems.
Access: This performance will be BSL interpreted.
Booking info: No booking required, just pop in during performance times.
