DaDaFest International 40 brings you ‘Rage, A Quiet Riot!’.
Visit our events page to see the full programme for #DDFI40.
Rage is something many disabled artists and individuals within our community feel. There is a sense of exhaustion and hopelessness that we often encounter in conversations. There's a feeling of deep rage that, what felt progressive and forward focused in terms of rights, access and attitude decades ago, is being eroded and we are being pitted against each other again.
Through our digital programme we are widening participation in many of our DDFI40 events, allowing people to visit exhibitions online and explore them in other ways through audio description, transcripts and interactivity, and participate in online events from wherever you feel most comfortable.
Visit our interactive map here to find out how to visit our exhibitions in person, or scroll down for online links.
ONLINE EXHIBITIONS
Rage, Riot and Revolution
For over four decades, disabled women in Liverpool and the North West have been powerful agents of change locally, nationally and internationally, reshaping their communities and the way society views disabled people. This exhibition celebrates the achievements of female activists, artists, leaders and champions of disability activism, highlighting their essential contributions to both local and global progress.
Launching on International Women’s Day, this exhibition celebrates their resilience, ingenuity, and impact. Through photography captured by Jan Williams, we illuminate their stories as activists fighting for equal rights, as artists reshaping cultural narratives, and as leaders in our communities. Included in this exhibition are portraits of: Ruth Fabby, Kaite O’Reiley, Cheryl Martin, Liz Carr, Amina Atiq & Pam Thomas.
“It is the systems that continue to disempower and disable us, not us.”
(Zoe Partington DaDa, CEO)
Click here to access this exhibition online.
Pimp My Wheelchair
Commissioned to create new work for DDFI40, responding to the theme of ‘Rage’, artists Faith Bebbington and Dr Janet Price launch ‘Pimp my Wheelchair’. Faith and Janet are ‘pimping up’ our prosthetics, dressing up crutches, wheelchairs, hearing aids (and more) with sculptures inspired by plants that use defence mechanisms to express rage against attack. From the thorn that pricks, to plants with leaves that close against touch, the new sculptures celebrate their challenge to ableism in the world.
There will be elements of pre-recorded Audio Description available and supporting audio information.
Click here to access an exhibition of these sculptures online.
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.
Visit this online display of Zoe’s light scuptures or visit them in person at venues across the city region, including: The Bluecoat, The Palm House in Sefton Park, The Williamson Art Gallery in Birkenhead, Shakespeare North, FACT and more.
Click here for an online exhibition of these sculptures.
Imagining Better Futures of Care For and With People with Energy Limiting Conditions – Artist Showcase Online
This exhibition showcases creative work produced as part of a research project led by University of Liverpool and Liverpool Hope University using online creative workshops to explore better futures of care for people with Energy Limiting Conditions. The works capture the rage and exhaustion people experience due to the inadequate care many receive and people’s hopes for better future care. The work includes zines, animations, creative non-fiction, a fairytale inspired short story, a podcast/audio collage, and a comic book.
Funders: The project was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as part of their programme of public engagement to mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS: AH/X012263/1. Project partners: Healing Justice London and Chronic Illness Inclusion. This collaboration with DaDa is funded by an AHRC Impact Accelerator Award, via The University of Liverpool IAA fund.
Find out more about the project by clicking here.
Find out more about the artists and their work here.
Koishii by Chris Shapiro
Koishii is Japanese for “I miss” referring to a person/ place/thing that it’s impossible (at least currently) to reunite with. The word itself has an almost dramatic and slightly older tone, but is also used with tongue-in-cheek self-awareness, an equivalent to the word “yearn”. The experience, created by DaDa Fellow Chris Shapiro, allows you to move a character to get a key, which lets you unlock a portal to the next day in your life. You have to navigate pools of lava, poison gas that slows you down, and your controls will change at random to make movement more uncomfortable. All the while, playing in the background, is Chris narrating their experience of chronic illness.
Access: Audio narration supports the game experience.
Click here to access Koishii online.
ONLINE EVENTS
Disability Arts Online - ‘Telepresence Stage’ Seminar & Screening
19th March 11am-3pm Online or at FACT
Disability Arts Online and Telepresence Stage are delighted to present a symposium discussion and workshop event.
11am – 1pm In the morning, two of the UK's leading disabled-led theatre companies, Birds of Paradise Theatre Company and CRIPtic Arts, will give presentations and a panel discussion on the benefits, possibilities, and future applications of unique online and hybrid performance outcomes they have developed, as part of an AHRC research project 'A Telepresence Stage for Disability Performing Arts'. This session is hybrid and can be attended in person or online.
Book your tickets here.
Monday 17th March 12 – 2pm
Online (Zoom) / FREE
Ignite: Artists Round-Table Using Creative Workshops to Imagine Better Futures of Care For - and with - People with Energy-Limiting Conditions
Artists: Khizra Ahmed, Khairani Barokka, Julian Gray, Mish Green, Louise Kenward
At this round-table discussion we’ll hear from 5 artists involved in a research project led by University of Liverpool and Liverpool Hope University. The project used online creative workshops to explore better futures of care for people with Energy-Limiting Conditions. Building from the rage and exhaustion people experience due to the inadequate care currently available, workshops used zine making, creative writing, fairytale writing, drawing, collage and mixed-media to collectively build ideas of better, possible futures. Funders: The project was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as part of their programme of public engagement to mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS: AH/X012263/1. Project partners: Healing Justice London and Chronic Illness Inclusion. This collaboration with DaDa is funded by an AHRC Impact Accelerator Award, via The University of Liverpool IAA fund. Find out more about the project here: disbeliefdisregard.uk/ahrc-project
Access: This event is online. BSL interpretation will be provided during the talk. Please let us know of any access requirements when booking.
Booking: Book your free ticket to this online session on Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/imagine-better-futures-for-with-people-with-energy-limiting-conditions-tickets-1247567992449?aff=oddtdtcreator
24th March, 6pm
Ignite: First Time Arts Council Applicants Session
This is an opportunity for you to find out more about what Arts Council England do and how you can apply for funding. This 1.5-hour webinar is for first time applicants based in the North of England or those who may have never heard about the Arts Council before and will be delivered online via Zoom.
The session will cover:
- An introduction to Arts Council England
- ACE main funding programme: National Lottery Project Grants and Developing Your Creative Practice
- How to get started with your application and top tips
- Questions & Answers session
Booking: Book your free ticket to this online session here
26th March
Sweat the System in partnership with Liverpool Biennial
10am-11am: Online Zoom
Join us on 26th March 10am-11am for this disability-led movement workshop facilitated by Australian artists Amy Claire Mills and Bedelia Lowrenčev.
This online workshop invites participants tomove and shake their bodies through sweat and play. This is not about fitness; it’s about liberation, using movement as a tool for self-expression, catharsis, and collective joy.
No experience necessary. Wheelchairs, mobility aids, and rest breaks are welcome.
Supported by Liverpool Biennial.
Access: BSL interpretation and closed captions will be available for this event.
Booking: Book via eventbrite.
27th March
Street Dreams: Urban Struggle Disability Pride
Online
Join disabled artists and their collaborators from Java & Bali - Indonesia, Cardiff and Liverpool to talk about mark making in the places that disempower us and the value of mural and street art as hyper-local radical activism. Artists contributing include: Sukri Budi Dharma, Winda Karunadhita, Nano Warsono and Andrew Bolton
Access:
The session will be interpreted simultaneously from English to Bahasa and vice versa. Please mention when booking your language preference. BSL will also be available along with captions and audio description.
If you have any difficulty booking via eventbrite, please do contact our team via info@dadafest.co.uk and we can help you to book.