bridging disability and the performing arts
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There are two groups of people in a rehearsal hall. To the left is a group of individuals standing in a circle, with their arms extended into the centre and touching. To the right is a pair of two individuals, both bending at the waist, with arms extended and connected by holding hands.

Workshop for Blind Performers, "Shakespeare Seen by Scene", 2004
Left to Right: Sarah Sackville McLaughlin, David Rosenfeld, John Burgess, Maureen McKinnon

Resources

The Picasso Project: A Report from the Field of Disability Arts (December 2004) by Alex Bulmer and Rose Jacobson.
The Picasso Project was a collaborative two-year research and training program (2002-2004) led by Alex Bulmer of SNIFF Inc. and Rose Jacobson, then Cross Cultural Director of the Toronto Theatre Alliance (now TAPA). This report-back covers the Disability Arts scene they encountered – groups, events and advocacy - in England, Vancouver, Toronto and beyond; descriptions of the project’s training workshops, a glossary of dis-arts terms of reference, concepts, recommendations, photo images, contacts, and more.
Download a PDF of the report here (68 pages).

Links

A basic guide to sites and groups actively linked to disability culture, disability arts, training, access services, arts services and the performing arts 

(Select) Professional Arts Service:

Equity Showcase Theatre (Picasso PRO Trustee/Training) http://www.equityshowcase.ca

Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA)  http://www.tapa.ca 

Theatre Ontario   http://www.theatreontario.org

Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) http://www.pact.ca

Playwrights Guild of Canada http://www.playwrightsguild.com

Small Theatre Administrative Facility (STAF) http://www.theatreadmin.com

Dance Umbrella of Ontario (DUO) http://www.danceumbrella.net

Creative Trust http://www.creativetrust.ca

Canadian Actors Equity Association (CAEA) http://www.caea.com

Canadian Artists Presenting Association (CAPACOA) http://www.capacoa.ca

Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) http://www.actra.ca

Toronto Association of Acting Studios ( TASS) http://www.torontoactingatudios.com

Canadian Actors Online (Talent Agents) http://www.canadianactor.com

The Artists’ Health Care Centre Foundation (AHCI) http://www.ahcf.ca

Key Arts Funding Agencies

Toronto Arts Council (TAC) http://www.torontoartscouncil.org

Ontario Arts Council (OAC) http://www.arts.on.ca

Canada Council for the Arts http://www.canadacouncil.ca

Ontario Trillium Foundation  http://www.trilliumfoundation.org

Laidlaw Foundation http://www.laidlawfdn.org

Metcalf Foundation http://www.metcalffoundation.com

Department of Canadian Heritage  http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca

Key Toronto Performing Arts Festivals/Presenters

The Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival http://www.fringetoronto.com

The Fringe Festival of Independent Dance (fFIDA)  http://www.ffida.org

SummerWorks Festival http://www.summerworks.ca

Harbourfront Centre/HATCH http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com

(Select) Disability-Related Services

Voiceprint Canada http://www.voicprintcanada.com

Panorama Captioning Services  carrie.oneill@panoramacaptioning.com

Handidactus (site audits) handidac@idirect.com

George Brown College ASL Training Programs  http://www.gbrownc.on.ca

The Canadian Hearing Society http://www.chs.ca

 Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) www.cnib.ca

Canadian Abilities Foundation/STRETCH http://www.abilities.ca

 Eyes on Camera (EOC) email:  eyesoncamera@yahoo.ca

(Select) Disability Arts & Culture Programming

Abilities Festival  http://www.abilities.ca

Workman Theatre Projects http://www.workmantheatre.com

Glenvale Players http://www.glenvaleplayers.org

Fireweed Media Productions Inc. dpeuromaki@aol.com 

Ryerson School of Disability Studies http://www.ryerson.ca/ds

Ryerson RBC Institute for Disability Studies, Research and Education http://www.ryerson.ca/ds

Creative Spirit Arts Centre http://www.creativespirit.on.ca

Society for Disability Arts and Culture, Vancouver ( S4DAC) http://www.s4dac.org

Canadian Disability Arts and Culture Network, Calgary http://www.stage-left.org

 

Articles

Reprints of current and archival speeches, remarks, articles and reviews

Op-Eds

Commissioned opinion pieces from artists and activists in the field

Profiles

Visual and text-based features, thumbnails, exhibits, creative samples by and about guest artists.

Archives

This is a journal of past Picasso PRO activities, research and events.  Click here to view the archives.

 

Picasso PRO and Equity Showcase Theatre gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation