A forum on art, disability and helping service providers become more inclusive will be held in Footscray next year thanks to a $10,000 funding windfall.
Footscray Community Arts Centre’s ArtLife Intersections Forum and Exhibition received the money as part of the State Trustees Australia Foundation Grassroots Grant program.
Hannah Morphy-Walsh, the creative producer organising the event, said the forum will bring together people with perceived disability, including culturally and linguistically diverse artists, the arts sector and disability service providers.
Ms Morphy-Walsh said the forum will be a chance for people to talk openly about the things that have the biggest impact on their lives.
“We want to look at how we change how we are talked about so it includes disabled voices,” she said.
Ms Morphy-Walsh said the event will be a chance to centre lived experiences of people with disability and look at the role art can play in exploring the intersectional identities that reflect the diversity of Melbourne’s west.
The public forum will be recorded and resources will be put online to help inform future discussion, particularly around the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
State Trustees executive general manager Melanie Lewis said the organisation is pleased to be able to support the forum and exhibition.
“It’s inspiring to see the great work that these grassroots organisations do with this funding,” she said.
“We’re especially excited to support this innovative forum and exhibition for local artists.”
