Milestone for disability arts

A milestone for the disability arts movement in Ireland will be celebrated in Dublin later today.

Face On: Disability Arts in Ireland and Beyond, is a groundbreaking collection of writings and an eclectic mix of readings, poetry, performance and film.

The international publication explores disability and deaf arts and culture in an Irish context with disabled people being able to see themselves at the centre of cultural life in the 21st century.

Featuring 24 contributions from key thinkers and artists, it captures a thought provoking collection containing compelling, engaging, honest and often humorous accounts of artists’ personal experiences of disability in terms of both their lives as artists and their identities.

Pioneers and veterans of disability arts meet emerging disability artists and share their experience whilst speculation, advice and hopes are offered up for the future.

The publication covers a range of disciplines of visual art, dance, theatre, literature, film and comedy, cultural and political commentary, poetry, academic essays, life writing, extracts from existing scripts and a wealth of visual art.

“My long-term ambition for this publication is that it will play a part in broadening audiences and employment opportunities for the work of disabled arts practitioners from Ireland,” said Padraig Naughton, director of Arts & Disability Ireland.

Contributors include Donal Toolan, actor, broadcaster, journalist and director of the Forum of People with Disabilities; writer/performer Nabil Shaban, best known for his role as ruthless intergalactic businessman Sil in Doctor Who; theatre director Jenny Sealey of Graeae Theatre company; comedian and disabled drag queen Philip Patston; and Rosaleen McDonagh, a Traveller with a disability who is a playwright, activist and performer.