Caroline Bowditch

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Caroline Bowditch to lead new disability arts festival

Meet Caroline Bowditch, who has been an inspiration to many for many years for directing and participating in several
disability art festivals.
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Caroline Bowditch: Arts
Access Victoria

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Current Projects

Check out the recent projects in which you can expect to see Caroline
Bowditch and her team’s performance.

Falling in Love with Frida

A classic theatre performance by talented disabled artists that uncovers the colourful life of world-famous painter Frida Kahlo.

The Adventures of Snigel

Witness a boardwalk part of the intrigued snail on an engaging journey who loves bubbles and gets lost in the fantasy world.

Snigel and Friends

Watch Snigel & Friends' performance, in which they dance, sing, and have fun in their snuggly homes while discovering hidden treasures with insect friends.

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About Caroline

Caroline Bowditch is the CEO of Arts Access Victoria and an Australian Artistic Director. She has inspired hundreds of people and given them hope that they can perform on stage and showcase their talents regardless of their disability. She is renowned as a performer, producer, instructor, presenter, and whirring wasp in the UK and beyond the arts sector. She is frequently welcomed to tutor local, domestic, and worldwide creatives at all stages of their artistic growth.
Artist and Choreographer
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Scottish Dance Theatre’s Dance Agent
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Herald Angel award
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local,national & international artists
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Why People Should Support Disabled Art Performers?

Disabled Art Performers

Usually, when we think of an artist, we consider their talent, creativity, and vision. Famous artists are frequently elevated in our imaginations to a position of genius, which distances them from regular people—especially ourselves. But did you know that despite having exceptional talent, many well-known artists have had to overcome disabilities? Yes. All persons, including those with disabilities, have the equal right to produce labor and participate in the creative economy. Unfortunately, people with disabilities are frequently thought to be unworthy artists or creatives.

Famous artists

Boosting up confidence

Each person has their own unique creativity, and they all deserve the chance to express it. We will therefore discover fresh and occasionally unfathomable ideas and inspirations if we, in the art and creative sector, encourage to support and collaborate with disabled artists.

  • Encourage people with disabilities to improve their skills with confidence. If disabled artists don’t yet fully control their creative process, supporting them could help them grow.
  • The same professional and social opportunities for disabled artists to participate in the society and community will be made possible with the aid of mental support.
  • Providing assistance to people with disabilities enables them to develop their own perspectives and means of expression.

Contribute to exchanging ideas

Disability Arts produces work that challenges myths, stereotypes, and unfavorable stories about the lives of those with disabilities. Its advantage is that it was made by Deaf and disabled individuals, as well as artists and creatives. They are creating captivating, astonishing, interesting, and modern art from the reality of the lived disability experience. Disability Arts brings together those who, in large part via activism, self-defense, and tolerance of difference, aim to convey the reality of their lived experience. There may be a stimulating interchange of ideas and expertise. By encouraging and fostering freedoms to engage in activities without fear and by normalizing what could otherwise cause discomfort or humiliation, the effort can contribute to changing the world today. In actuality, the issue with regular individuals is that they don’t actually exist.

Disability Arts

Seek attention

The work of disabled actors and dancers has garnered a growing amount of attention, bigger audiences, and presentation in renowned venues and festivals during the past ten years. However, there hasn’t been any ongoing research into how audiences, including those with and without impairments, interact with, understand, and react to this work.

The structure of the look, empathy across differences, societal conceptions of handicap, the economics of programming, and evaluations of quality are only a few of the specific problems that performances of disability pose in regard to spectatorship. Disability provokes worry about looking and stigmatization since it simultaneously draws and disrupts the gaze in culture. However, the discussions that could contextualize this gaze and situate it within critical, political, and artistic discourses are frequently lacking or incipient.

Top Art Organizations for People with Disabilities

Disabilities

If you are a person with disabilities or special needs looking to get started in the field of arts, it helps to get to know as many like-minded people in the field as possible and get information about the kind of opportunities available. In this article, you will get to learn about some of the top art organizations for people with disabilities:

The U.S. Handicapable Square Dance Association

This convention has been around since 1988, and it has empowered many people with disabilities to thrive in dancing. You will find many talented and enthusiastic people from different age groups who will be happy to befriend you and provide their experience in the field. This convention is held every other year, typically in July.

De Colores

This is a popular organization working in California. It has absolutely no profit motive. Its sole objective is to increase the inclusion of disabled people in the arts field. It provides a space for artists to share their ideas with the world. It has many useful programs suitable for people with disabilities. The programs give you the opportunity to develop the necessary skills required to thrive in the field.

The Minnesota Access Alliance (MNNA)

If you are having difficulty finding opportunities to perform in front of a crowd, the MNNA can help you get started. It offers its members a wealth of resources to help them become familiar with accessibility and the various opportunities available in the state of Minnesota. If you are interested in dancing, photography, acting, music, and virtual arts, you will find the MNNA incredibly useful.

The Disability Project

This is an ensemble in Missouri that has become popular among people with disabilities that are interested in making a mark in the theatre industry. It gives you a chance to develop your theatre skills through different exercises. Here, you will find enthusiastic participants as young as 18 and as old as 70.

Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts

This alliance is committed to ensuring greater inclusion of disabled people in the entertainment industry. It encourages uncomfortable conversations and is a fierce advocate for positive social change. The alliance is aimed at helping people understand the history of the arts field and become aware of the various issues currently facing it. It gives artists plenty of opportunities to perform in front of different audiences.

Arts

Connect WC: Activities

Connect WC has proved to be a gift for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It helps them become aware of the various art organizations available. It is suitable for self-advocates and people who want to encourage people with disabilities to progress in the arts field.

To Sum Up

These are some of the top organizations for people with disabilities. Networking is at the heart of the growth of disabled performing arts. It has to occupy a respected position in the industry and needs more recognition.

How to Fight Ableism in the Theatre Industry

Fight Ableism

Ableism has long been a problem in the theatre industry. It has led people with disabilities or special needs to shy away from expressing their talents and creativity. Hence, taking the necessary steps to create a diverse and inclusive space for them is vital. Here are some ways in which ableism can be fought against in the theatre industry

Creating More Awareness Among Theatre Owners

As more theatre owners become aware that disabled people occupy an important place in the theatre industry, they will be required to design the theatre and its vicinity, ensuring maximum convenience and safety for people with disabilities.

Fight Ableism

The theatre owners must provide adequate information about the measures taken for disabled artists and audience members. The disabled audience members must have a clear idea about the venue. They can even be given free companion tickets.

Simple steps like creating designated parking spaces close to the venue and ensuring that there are enough seats that can be reserved for them. They should also take into consideration that disabled people may require quiet spaces in the event that they experience any side effects from the sounds and lighting. It is also necessary to ensure that the acoustics and lighting are reasonable.

How Event Organizers Can Support People with Disabilities

Event organizers play a vital role in the process. They need to be empathetic to the needs of people with disabilities and ensure a safe and non-judgmental space for them. The space where they practice and rehearse must be free of potential triggers.

There must also be the necessary script provisions for deaf and blind people. They may also require some people on the location to provide them with support and assistance for movement.

The Need for Real Representation

There is a strong need for the theatre industry to reconsider its practices and attitudes around disabled people. Unfortunately, ableism has become systemic in the theatre industry to the point that non-disabled people are often hired to play the roles of disabled people.

Hence, there needs to be a push toward authentic representation. This gives them a chance for disabled artists to make money and enjoy a career that provides them with a sense of purpose and other positive mental health benefits.

ableism

Disabled people have long faced discrimination in the theatre industry. They’ve had their experiences invalidated through disabled mimicry and harmful stereotypes. Hence, the theatre industry must not treat the reasonable demand for more equality and inclusion as an inconvenience. Hence, organizational disability policies must be carefully reviewed, and the various access needs must be met.

To Sum Up

The journey to fighting ableism in the theatre industry is not easy but becoming possible and real day by day. People are showing a genuine interest in what disabled artists have to share. Hence, the focus must be on both increasing financial accessibility and physical accessibility.

Benefits of Performing Arts for Disabled People

Disabled People

It has been only recently that the world of performing arts has opened up to people with disabilities or special needs. Unfortunately, the historical development of this field did not have disabled performers.

People mistakenly considered them only to be a part of the audience. As a result, disabled people didn’t get a chance to show their talents. Here are some benefits of performing arts for disabled people:

Opportunity to Participate in a Community

It is important for disabled people to have community participation. It serves as a space where they can be fully themselves and connect with one another. It gives them a chance to form beautiful friendships and perform networking for career opportunities in the theatre industry as well.

Hence, they can successfully resolve issues like social isolation and loneliness. Moreover, it gives them a chance to develop important social skills that can help them in many ways in life.

Good for Mental Health

Unfortunately, many people with special needs often suffer from limiting beliefs. However, when they are trained by empathetic and skilled instructors in a safe environment, they soon start opening up and thriving.

Performing arts can have many significant mental health benefits. It has high therapeutic value to offer. It can give them a sense of freedom and spaciousness. It allows them to get their creative juices flowing and enter into a state of flow.

They learn to feel more comfortable in their own skin and celebrate their uniqueness. They can contribute to their group and feel heard and appreciated for their unique ideas. It’s undoubtedly one of the best outlets they can have. It can help them remain physically fit and develop their motor skills.

Mental Health

Sense of Purpose

Performing arts gives something for disabled people to look forward to. They can become fully occupied and immersed in the process of learning and practicing. It gives them a chance to develop many important skills, such as communication skills, expressive abilities, and the ability to think outside the box and solve problems efficiently.

When they put their time into practice and successfully execute a performance, they will get feelings of satisfaction and confidence. Accomplishments are vital in the proper development of a sense of healthy well-being.

It Gives Them a Sense of Agency

Many disabled people often have a dependency on the people around them to perform certain tasks and duties. As a result, they often miss not having a sense of personal agency in their lives. The performing arts can help them overcome feelings of powerlessness and give them a grounded sense of control.

To Sum Up

It is vital for the performing arts classes for disabled people to be a safe and non-judgmental space. Therefore, they must be spacious and have the necessary equipment to offer disabled people maximum comfort and convenience.

Famous Artists and Writers with Disabilities

Famous Artists

Many people have several misconceptions about people with disabilities and think that they may not have a place in the world of arts. However, history has often shown us otherwise.

Did you know that many famous artists and writers had significant disabilities, but they didn’t let themselves or society stop them from pursuing their heart’s true desire? Here are some of the famous artists and writers with disabilities that you should know about:

disabilities

Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch painter whose talent was unfortunately never recognized in his lifetime. He had a tough life and struggled to make ends meet. However, he attained posthumous fame with his incredible paintings, which are now worth millions.

Did you know that Vincent Van Gogh had bipolar disorder and temporal lobe epilepsy? He would often get seizures from the latter. In addition, the medication he took had side effects on his vision, which surprisingly had an extremely positive impact on his art. His disabilities were also a great source of creativity. He would have phases where he was hyper-productive and created stunning works of art.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven is still celebrated as a genius in the musical world for his spectacular compositions. He was a prodigy that started at the age of seven. He became a masterful composer in his youth. In his late 20s, he started experiencing hearing difficulties, which unfortunately grew with time.

By the time he was a middle-aged man, he couldn’t hear at all. However, his love for music was so strong that he could visualize and feel the music inside of himself. He didn’t let his hearing loss stop him from composing incredible works like the Opera Fidelio.

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder is also another musical prodigy who became blind after his birth. He knew how to play multiple musical instruments and learned how to sing by the time he was ten. He is known to have a profound understanding of musical theory. He has a huge fan base around the world for his mastery of the piano and is recognized as a legend.

Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse was a popular French painter and sculptor whose works are still studied and appreciated today. Later in his life, he fought cancer, the effects of which led him to use the wheelchair as a mobility aid.

He didn’t let this stop him from pursuing his passion for painting. He developed unique methods and shaped his life around making paintings while sitting in his wheelchair. He produced some of his best works in this period.

Ray Charles

Ray Charles was a celebrated singer and songwriter known for his genius in the unique genre of soul music. He had blindness from an early age and learned music in a school for deaf and blind students. He became a master at the piano and learned it through the Braille script.

Disabled People in the Field of Performing Arts – What You Need to Know

Performing Arts

Disabled people are being recognized for the creativity and talent they have to offer in the field of performing arts. Hence, there is a stronger push towards their representation and correcting the false image or misconceptions that many people, unfortunately, tend to carry about them. Here are some things that you should know about disabled people in the field of performing artists

They are Passionate About Performing

Many people assume that disabled people just make up part of the audience. Hence, they often tend to dismiss or not acknowledge their inner artists, Hence, the field of arts has unfortunately progressed without their presence, with many non-disabled actors playing the roles of disabled people.

About Performing

However, history has shown us otherwise in areas like writing and music. The famous Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky had epilepsy. Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the world’s most famous classical composers, became entirely deaf by the time he was 40. Hence, many disabled people believe this is their moment to seize the opportunity and show their creativity to the world.

Well Developed Communities

Disabled people often find great solace and joy in becoming performers. It gives them a sense of purpose in life and helps them become more confident. They are also fiercely passionate about social justice and change. They like to challenge the unquestioned social norms in society.

Many art organizations welcome the presence of disabled people and provide them with the opportunity to showcase their talent and grow. The disabled art community is thriving due to the efforts of disabled people networking and offering support.

A Greater Push Towards Accessibility

For the disabled art community to thrive, there needs to be a re-evaluation of the current system and a greater movement toward systemic change. Governments need to be proactive in their support, and artists need to be able to make a living in this field without obstacles or barriers being placed in their way. They shouldn’t be unfairly discriminated against in the casting process.

They will also need to be given accessible spaces to ensure that they can comfortably perform at different venues. This is, unfortunately, a significant obstacle that the disabled arts community is still facing. Nowadays, many people even offer accessibility consulting services.

Accessibility

Theatre owners must also show consideration in their design choices and ensure that they have quiet spaces for disabled audience members in the event that they find themselves overwhelmed.

To Sum Up

It is high time that the art world needs to hear about the experiences of the disabled community. Performances by disabled artists are often highly evocative. With more inclusivity and implementation of anti-ableist principles, the role of disabled people in the performance arts field can become more permanent and well-established.

Disability Is Not A Barrier To Success

Disability

Man can accomplish anything he sets his mind to. If someone has a strong enough motive, a strong enough dedication, and a strong enough resolve, he can overcome any physical, psychological, or mental disability. If one opposes disability, it can never be a barrier to success. The following article, discusses the fundamental idea, significance, and importance of the idea that a person’s disability should never stand in the way of their ability to succeed in life.

Types of disabilities

Disability refers to a person’s physical, mental, or other limitations that prevent them from successfully doing tasks that ordinarily call for ordinary effort. Every disabled person’s life is hampered in some way by their disability. It is seen as a physical or mental illness that restricts a person’s ability to move, perceive, or engage in certain activities. Disabilities come in a variety of forms, including

  • mental illness
  • physical disabilities
  • intellectual disabilities
  • visual and hearing impairment

Different types of support and assistance are required depending on the disability. The most crucial components, though, are a cheerful outlook and self-assurance. A disabled person can succeed in life regardless of their disability if they possess these two attributes.

Disability is not to be seen as an obstacle

Many persons with impairments have succeeded in their life by overcoming all the challenges. Some tools for disabled people to achieve success are:

Positivity and confidence in oneself

The key to success for someone with a disability is to be optimistic and confident in oneself. Your ability to overcome obstacles in life depends on your attitude. You’ll perform at your best and reach your objectives if you have self-confidence.

Friend and family assistance

For a disabled person, the encouragement of family and friends is crucial. They can assist you in a variety of ways, including by offering financial assistance, emotional support, and physical assistance.

Government Assistance

There are numerous government programs that offer financial support to people with disabilities. With the help of this money, you can buy things like rehabilitation treatments, assistive technology, and other necessities.

financial support

Access to Employment and Education

A disabled individual has the same access to employment and education as anyone else. There are numerous institutions that offer jobs and education to people with disabilities.

Community Assistance

The neighborhood can be a crucial support system for people with disabilities. The community can offer practical, financial, and emotional help. It brings altogether those who, in large part via activism, self-defense, and tolerance of difference, aim to convey the reality of their lived experience. There may be a stimulating interchange of ideas and expertise. By encouraging and fostering freedoms to engage in activities without fear and by normalizing what could otherwise cause discomfort or humiliation, the effort can contribute to changing the world today. In actuality, the issue with regular individuals is that they don’t actually exist.

 

Disability Art Performance Guide: Use These Tips

Disability Art Performance

Disability art performance is growing at a fast pace, and many people recognize the unique creativity, beauty, and talent that disabled art performers have to offer. If you are a disabled person that wishes to get started in the field of arts, this disability art performance guide can help you get started:

Explore the Arts

The field of arts is always an exploration. Therefore, you will be required to study and learn as many different styles and techniques as possible. This will help you get a good understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to flourish.

You can start by watching plenty of performances and carefully observing them. It also helps to be well-versed in the history of the field. It will give you an in-depth understanding along with inspiration.

Place Emphasis on Networking

Without networking, it is close to impossible to make progress in the field of arts. You will need to have an active presence in the community of disabled art performers. Being part of such a community will help you not feel alone or discouraged.

You will be able to learn and overcome the common difficulties and obstacles for disabled art performers collectively. Hence, you can contribute to the development of the ecology of disabled art performers.

You will also get to learn about important events, workshops, and performance opportunities. You can also get in touch with art organizations for disabled people to gain the necessary community experience and make positive contributions.

Explore the Arts

You Will Need to Learn to Work as a Team

When you are in the theatre industry, you will constantly be working with all kinds of people. You will need to learn how to find common ground with them and work as a team. You will also need to know how to gracefully resolve ego clashes and ensure optimum creativity in the process. Solidarity among disabled art performers is crucial to ensuring a good stage performance that the audience will enjoy.

Practice Self-Care

Disabled art performers are typically fiercely passionate about producing the best work possible and becoming well-known. However, many of them often get too consumed by the process, and the quality of their work tends to suffer.

Hence, it is vital for disabled art performers to know their limits and take time off to rest. Taking breaks in the process is a healthy thing and can actually be a tremendous source of creativity and inspiration.

Self-Awareness

Disabled art performers must know how to be objective about the process and analyze the many ways in which the performance can be improved. In addition, they need to continually challenge themselves and think outside of the box in order to captivate the audience and put them in awe.

Character Traits For Successful Disabled Arts Performer

Disabled Arts

Disability Arts produces work that challenges myths, stereotypes, and unfavorable stories about the lives of those with disabilities. Its advantage is because it was made by Deaf and disabled individuals, as well as artists and creatives. They are creating captivating, astonishing, interesting, and modern art from the reality of the actual experience of disability. This work is relevant to a wider audience of people of all ages and not just those who are disabled or Deaf. Additionally, there are several traits that successful artists share:

wider audience

Persistence

A trait called perseverance enables someone to carry on doing or doing something, despite difficulty or opposition from others. It doesn’t take a more detailed explanation to understand how persistence relates to becoming an artist. Persistence is necessary for artists to:

  • Develop and/or hone their craft
  • Become more skilled
  • Complete each piece of art
  • Create a remarkable body of work
  • Create a lucrative art career

Patience

The virtue of quiet endurance is patience. The typical disabled artist is fervent; they are either entranced by or repulsed by their creations. It evens out those lows and highs with patience. It is comparable to persistence, although patience is more of an emotion, whereas consistency is more of a discipline. Persistence without patience is possible. Your dreams might never come true if you lack the patience to pursue them.

Passion

Most people are aware of the passion that drives us to produce art. Even when there doesn’t seem to be another reason to create work, passion is what keeps you going. You must have the drive to put in the work, but you do not need to be filled with a fiery exuberance for your art. Your perseverance and patience are fueled by your enthusiasm.

A spirit of exploration

Life itself is an adventure. The process of making art is very similar. No matter how carefully you prepare your next project, there is no assurance it will come out as you intended. Happy accidents frequently occur, and an effective artist will spot them and take advantage of them. If you wish to investigate novel ideas or themes or approach a well-known subject in a fresh way, you’ll also need a sense of adventure. Or even when a meticulously planned picture or design takes a surprising turn and you find yourself working outside of your comfort zone.

Discipline

To finish art that can later be promoted and, perhaps, sold, you must discipline it with tenacity and patience. Without the discipline of passion, perseverance becomes boring and horrible. And regardless of how daring you are, if you lack the discipline to keep moving forward—or to make the next movement of paint or pencil—you will never succeed. In order to create and produce any type of artwork or performance, discipline is essential. The management of one’s time, energy, and attention must be disciplined. It makes it very difficult for me to keep organized and be creative.

A Complete Guide To Disability Arts Festivals

Disability Arts Festival

Disability Arts is an element to get inspiration and input from unanticipated, unexpected, and talents of disabled people and their arts. The visual arts programs and festivals were a surefire approach to confront stereotypes and remove the numerous unfavorable ideas about what disabled performers are capable of, capable of thinking, and capable of achieving. There are several festivals conducted to encourage and showcase the talents of disabled people. Some of them are:

Unlimited festival

Unlimited festival

Since 2012, the ‘Unlimited festival’ has collaborated with the Unlimited commissioning fund. This festival features work by artists who identify as disabled, deaf, neurodivergent, and people enduring chronic sickness, mental health concerns, and more by using the phrase “disabled artist.” It promotes exceptional works created by disabled artists and will continue to do so until the entire cultural industry does as well. The festival features dance, performance, comedy, cinema, discussions, seminars, and artwork to highlight the artistic vision of challenged artists. Audiences have the choice of watching events live or on-demand at their own convenience.

FEST’DIF

A venue for professional and social integration, Fest’Dif serves as an invitation to connect, exchange, and be receptive to others. It is also a time for festive joviality on the subject of diversity and diversity, which includes seminars and performances. Fest’Dif brings to light athletic and artistic works produced by performers with disabilities or by any other artist who practices inclusive behavior and values social diversity. The group aims to encourage equal opportunity in cultural events for all persons and to increase accessibility in the activities.

DaDaFest

Since its founding in 1984, DaDaFest has worked to break new ground, empower Deaf and disabled people, and raise their expectations in the arts. We want to support the sector’s growth of talent, skills, and careers. To represent the lived lives of people with disabilities, DaDaFest is directed and focused by people with disabilities. We think that social factors, such as structural obstacles, unfavorable attitudes, and unintentional or intentional social exclusion, are what really “disable” people. DaDaFest utilizes the arts to raise awareness, alter perceptions, find and get rid of obstacles that limit disabled people’s options in life. The festival provides a forum for discussing larger topics that have an impact on all of our lives, and its programming is filtered through the eyes of disabled or Deaf artists and pertinent communities.

DaDaFest

InTaKT Festival

An essential component of collaboration for artists with disabilities is the InTaKT Festival for performance, dance, arts, culture, and theatre. No one should or must be rejected on the grounds of distinct traits, regardless of age, origin, physical ability, and/or intellectual disability. Everyone should be afforded the same opportunity, including in the context of our festival’s cultural aspects. This intriguing initiative gives disadvantaged artists the chance to dance, perform, and display their talents over the duration of many days.

Happy Reviews

"Caroline Bowditch has truly given hope for all disabled individuals to work for themselves and show their talents."
Elizabeth M. Douse
"Caroline Bowditch displays a wide range of plays that appeal to people of all ages, not to forget her team, which always performs admirably."
Jennifer J. Sakai

Facilitated/chaired by a local artist/promoter!

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