Abstract
In November 2021, a research report was published authored by ‘On the Move’ and commissioned by the British Council called ‘Time to Act’ which focused on arts engagement by disabled people in Europe. The report evidenced the lack of accessibility in the arts for disabled individuals and a lack of confidence in arts environments including disabled people in their activities and events. 48% of respondents were not very/at all confident in the accessibility of artistic programmes for disabled people. The report also demonstrated the lack of consideration for disabled people in the planning and facilitation of arts events or programmes. This paper considers how these findings relate to Wrexham specifically. The paper forms an overview of how the arts are perceived within the area, by disabled communities and individuals. The paper articulates the development of a network of third-party collaborators who have an enriched knowledge and understanding of the arts community in Wrexham in relation to disability and community arts. Citing links made with local groups such as The Wrexham Miner’s Project (Art4All); Emerge Community Arts; Nathan Lee Davis (poet and disability rights activist); STAND North Wales; and Dementia Friends Art Group, the paper examines the challenges and identify possible ways forward in enabling local arts venues, event-organisers, and creative practitioners, to foster sustainable approaches to the perspectives of disabled people in Wrexham, with the aim to enable arts engagement.
Presenters
Alec ShepleyProfessor of Art & Society / Associate Dean for Research, Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology, Wrexham University, Wrexham [Wrecsam GB-WRC], United Kingdom Grace Thomas
Senior Research Fellow, Art and Humanities, Wrexham University, Flintshire [Sir y Fflint GB-FFL], United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
The Arts in Social, Political, and Community Life
KEYWORDS
Arts and Engagement; Arts and Disability; Creative Method
