About Us:
Disability Arts in Shropshire (DASH) is a Disabled led visual arts charity. We create opportunities for Disabled artists to develop their creative practice from high quality commissions to community based workshops. We work with artists, audiences, communities and organisations to challenge inequality and implement change.
Training, nurturing, and developing the skills and confidence of disabled artists is central to DASH achieving these aims.
Our recent 'We Are Invisible We Are Visible' project saw over 31 disabled artists perform surreal art interventions in 30 locations across Britain and Northern Ireland on 2nd July 2022. This award-winning project was a celebration of the Dada art movement as well as Disability Arts.
We are small but ambitious organisation. As part of the development of our online services, we want to offer accessible and supported training that will be a valuable tool to D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists. Helping them to build, develop and maintain sustainable careers as artists. But we need help to do this ...
DASH created the BEAST project in direct response to Deaf and Disabled artists' needs post-Covid.
During the coronavirus pandemic and enforced lockdown DASH extended its mentoring offer for Disabled artists and has mentored over 100 artists online since March 2020.
During these mentoring sessions, it became apparent that many of these artists did not feel confident in their skills and knowledge in areas of business that would further develop their careers.
This was identified as a serious barrier to their ability to find work and sustain careers as artists and creatives in the sector - whether this is as an employee or self-employed.
In response, DASH piloted BEAST (Business Education and Skills Training). This accessible and supported training for disabled artists was a great success and DASH wants to offer this opportunity to D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists again.
Artist: Lisette Auton. Image Credit: Kev Howard.
What the Artists Say
Hear what artists had to say about the previous BEAST programme:
"This was an incredible workshop - the information shared will have an immensely positive impact on my life and ability to be a professional artist. Thank you so much!"
“This was a very important and useful workshop”
"The best workshop I've been to for years. So clear and relevant. Surpassed my expectations. Thank you"
“I feel more informed about benefits entitlements and permitted work, and about Disability Rights UK so feel that I will be able to signpost disabled artists in my network, who get benefits/are applying for benefits and want to know more about work, in the right direction to get the advice and support they need”
“The workshop was clear and informative and I now feel I have the skills I need to write my own art budget.”
“Very well thought through full of useful information.”
“I found it very informative and relayed in a very concise and thoughtful way”
“The event felt relaxed while remaining professional and informative”
What Your Support Means
Your support today will help DASH to deliver the second programme of online accessible workshops, giving over 50 artists the opportunity to:
- Increase their knowledge in all aspects of business development to support the growth of their creative business.
- Address gaps in skills as people face new ways of working remotely and digitally.
- Support artists to develop their business and technical skills and become more resilient and financially independent.
BEAST will directly benefit 50+ D/deaf/Disabled/neurodivergent artists across the UK. Supporting artists at all stages of their careers, but particularly focusing on those at early stages.
Your contribution towards BEAST will equip a new generation of D/deaf/Disabled artists with the tools to flourish as creative businesses as they become:
- More confident and resilient
- Able to articulate the value of their creative practice
- Aware of their access needs and how to have them supported
- More connected and less isolated, having made new connections and network
Don't forget to claim your reward with your donation.
For a donation of £20
Receive a hardback copy of The Incorrigibles: Perspectives on Disability Visual Arts in the 20th & 21st Centuries. This book is a celebration of difference, it is about the will to survive as artists, it is about humanity and that art unites us all as human beings.
For a donation of £10:
Receive a copy of the limited edition WAIWAV zine. Published as part of the We Are Invisible We Are Visible project.
Thank you for your support!
Best Wishes from the DASH Team and Board