Top names gather for Galway conference on art and disability

Creative Connections will examine arts practice, professional development, support, programming, access to the arts, leadership, advocacy and policy for people with disabilities.

International speakers at the conference will include writer and artist Jess Thom who founded the UK based project Touretteshero; Betty Siegel Director of VSA and Accessibility at John F Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Washington DC; Emma Bennison the CEO of Arts Access Australia, a musician and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities; Josette Bushell Mingo, the Artistic Director of Swedish National Theatre of the Deaf (Tyst Teater) at the Swedish National Touring Theatre

The conference will also feature Irish practitioners, including several from the group Ignite, an initiative that facilitates the creation of new work by people with disabilities. They include English musician and performer Jez Colborne of Mind the Gap Theatre, who has worked with Galway company, That’s Life on several previous productions. Artist Aideen Barry of Ignite Mayo, Simon McKeown of Ignite Cork, Kris Nelson of the Dublin Fringe Festival, Bairbre-Ann Harkin of Kilkenny’s Butler Gallery and Willie White of the Dublin Theatre Festival will also take part.

Creative Connections will also feature a showcase of work and an after-party, with performances from critically acclaimed Irish and international artists. The event will be topped off by a night at the hugely successful Club Tropicana, produced by That’s Life.

The Creative Connections Conference will be held at the Town Hall Theatre, on Wednesday, January 27 and Thursday, January 28, at the city’s Town Hall Theatre and Black Box.

Tickets are €40, which includes access to the conference, lunch on both days, dinner on the Wednesday night and admission to the showcase and after-party. Booking at tht.ie, or 091-569777.

A number of bursary tickets will be available. Contact [email protected], for guidelines and application details.