What do we do?

All events and meetings are aimed to be organized as inclusively and accessibly as possible.

 

Artistic Work

In spring 2022, artists were selected through an open call to work in residencies. They will prepare exhibitions in various spaces in Tornio and Haparanda. In 2023, the works will be curated into a group exhibition at the Aine Art Museum.

Learn more about residencies and artists.

Learn more about exhibitions.

 

Artist Meetings

We are organizing artist meetings from 2022 to 2023. The meetings are open to artists who identify as disabled or deaf, but all artists interested in peer support and collaboration are welcome. The purpose of the meetings is to connect with other artists or individuals interested in an artist’s career, share experiences, knowledge, and skills. The main responsibility for organizing the meetings lies with the Cultural Association EUCREA Finland.

 

Feedback Workshops

We are hosting feedback workshops for artists from 2022 to 2023. These workshops will cover topics such as art content and techniques, applying to art schools, applying for grants, art production, and artist associations and professional communities. The workshops are open to all disabled and deaf artists or individuals interested in art, but the number of participants is limited. Participants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. The workshops will be held in various locations in Finland, and remote participation is possible. The main responsibility for organizing the workshops lies with the Cultural Association EUCREA Finland.

 

Mentorship

The project also includes mentorship for artists. Learn more!

 

Influencing the Art Sector

We are training art funders together with the Foundations and Funds Association on issues such as the barriers faced by disabled artists in application processes, application evaluation, and the accessibility of grant forms, communication, and websites. The aim is also to increase knowledge about disability culture, deaf culture, and other intersections of disability and art. We will discuss aesthetics, skill, quality, and various ways of merit with participants.

Additionally, we organize training sessions for critics and curators in collaboration with the Finnish Critics’ Association (SARV). Questions to be considered include “Where can disabled artists be found?” and “What language is best to use when talking about disability?” The goal is to develop discourse on disability and art.

We collaborate with the Theatre Arts degree program at the University of Tampere (Näty) to produce guidelines for accessible entrance exams and accessible teaching. The guidelines will be distributed to all arts-related institutions. Näty will also address questions of aesthetics, skill, and art quality.

 

Discussion Sessions

We organize discussions at festivals featuring works by disabled artists, such as the annual Disability Day Art and Action festival (DiDa) in Helsinki and the Parafest in Joensuu.

 

Sharing Information

Various arts professionals and students contribute texts to the project’s website addressing its themes. Additionally, we share information on other good practices developed during the project, such as how to organize artist residencies as accessibly as possible.