Disability arts receive £600,000 Olympics boost

Kelly Mullan

The organisers of London 2012 have announced plans for Unlimited, the largest ever celebration of disability arts, as part of a Cultural Olympiad.

To date, £600,000 has been pledged for a series of commissions for disabled artists and arts organisations over the next four years, leading up to the 2012 Games.

Jude Kelly, culture chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), said: “The disability arts sector will use the opportunity of Unlimited as a high-profile platform for developing new artists and audiences and influencing the future of culture.”

But the announcement has only received a qualified welcome from the disability arts movement.

According to artist and consultant Ju Gosling, earlier draft plans for the Cultural Olympiad provoked anger by proposing a disability arts strand of only one day of community arts during the Paralympics. This more ambitious announcement is, she said, a damage limitation exercise.

Ju Gosling said: “Yes, it’s good, we’ve lobbied hard for this. I welcome the new title. It was originally called Extraordinary Abilities, which is very, very insulting.

“I’m concerned about delivery of these plans. There’s a credibility gap. For four years of programming you need an organisational base and by closing the London Disability Art Forum (LDAF), the Arts Council has dismantled the infrastructure.”

Peter Kinkead, director of the London Disability Film Festival, formerly part of LDAF, said: “I’m glad to hear it, but it’s a matter of separating rhetoric from reality. Jude Kelly is waxing lyrical about the Cultural Olympiad but we need money.”

Asked his opinion of the amount of money pledged, he said: “It’s peanuts! In terms of four years’ work and trying to make an impact, it’s a drop in the ocean.”

Tony Heaton, chief executive of Shape Arts, added: “It’s not a huge amount of money. You have to really be creative with a budget like that, but you can use it to lever other funds.”

Shape Arts is already involved in the Cultural Olympiad and has awarded Inspired by 2012 commissions to Kazzum Theatre Company, StopGAP Dance Company, Liz Bentley (above), and Aaron Williamson.

Shape’s Kate Larsen said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the work of Deaf and disabled artists on a world stage and hopefully create a legacy of access.”

One of the commissioned artists, poet and musician Liz Bentley, said disability arts will enrich the Olympic experience for everyone: “The Olympics are very straight. If an athlete starts a race they’ll cross the finish line, but an artist is likely to wander off halfway through if they see something interesting. Getting the commission has felt like recognition of my work.”

Comedian Francesca Martinez was approached by Jude Kelly to be involved in planning the programme and said: “I’m really glad to be able to represent disability arts and really happy we can do something with a world focus.  It’s about time!”

On the LOCOG claim that the UK leads the world in disability arts, Francesca Martinez said: “I’d hate to think we lead the world: We’ve a hell of  a long way to go. There are fantastic disability arts groups but in terms of crossing over to the mainstream, there are barriers.”

The last word on the proposed marriage of art and sport should go to comedian Lizz Carr, who was heard at the Liberty Festival to say: “Fuck that. Those Paralympians make the rest of us look lazy.”