D/Deaf or disabled artists and companies are being invited to apply for £2,500 worth of funding to create a new digital project around the theme of libraries and how they impact local communities.
Commissioned by St Helens Borough Council’s award-winning Cultural Hubs Arts in Libraries programme – in partnership with Liverpool-based disability and deaf arts organisation, DaDaFest – the project looks to highlight how libraries are seen as a place to discover, meet, learn, and be part of communal public space – and yet have often been targeted throughout history with deliberate damage as a form of cultural cleansing.
As part of the commission, successful artists or companies will be invited to programme a public event, such as an artist Q&A, presentation or performance, in a St Helens Borough library when it’s safe to do so.
St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Leisure, Libraries, Arts and Heritage, Councillor Anthony Burns, said: “As a library service, we believe in the power of books and discovery to change our world, and nurture the moments of compassion and excitement found in our libraries. We see the creative projects we produce as another way of changing people’s perceptions of libraries, which offer much, much more than just books.
“That’s why we’ve teamed up with DaDaFest to commission a project which harmonises some of these ideas and it would be fantastic to see d/Deaf artists and organisations come forward to apply for this opportunity and discover their inspiration in libraries.”
Richard Nutter, Executive Director of DaDaFest says:
“We are delighted to be extending our 2020 Festival commissions programme by partnering with Cultural Hubs to offer this opportunity to disabled and d/Deaf artists. Libraries are a unique resource for everyone to discover, learn about the world and change perceptions and understanding of the society in which we all live, work and play.”
Cultural Hubs, an Arts in Libraries project, is a National Portfolio Organisation that works across St Helens Borough through public libraries, programming and commissioning works which connects people across the borough and the world.
In 2016 it was crowned the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded arts programme in The National Lottery Awards – and last year engaged with more than over 4,000 people through a number of exhibitions.
DaDaFest was established in 1984 to inspire, develop and celebrate talent and excellence in disability and deaf arts.
The innovative and cutting edge disability and deaf arts organisation uses the arts to educate and challenge attitudes – and remove barriers that restrict disabled people from living an independent and equal life in society.
To apply for this this funding, visit www.dadafest.co.uk
