The Disability Atlantic Arts Symposium will be an online gathering that brings Atlantic-Canadian Disability-identified artists together for the first time.

Taking place on October 22, 23 and 24, DAAS will consist of three panel discussions: “Funding Access: Where’s the Money?”, “A Conversation with Funders” and “Strange Avenues”. DAAS will close the event with an exciting Cabaret line-up of drag, burlesque, spoken word, poetry, performance art, comedy and a circus act!

DAAS promises a thoughtful setting to discover new artists and opportunities, share insights and stories, all with the goal of unifying an undeniable Disability arts community in Atlantic Canada.

The Disability Atlantic Arts Symposium will have ASL interpreting, closed captioning, transcripts and a mix of visual descriptions and integrated audio descriptions.

This year's three panel discussions are as follows:

Strange Avenues | October 22 | 7-8:30 p.m.

How do disabled artists establish their careers in ableist spaces? Join moderator Debbi Patterson and panelists Anna Quon and Vie Jones as they explore the strange and glorious avenues of cripping the arts. In this panel discussion the artists will share stories of how their access needs have led to- or informed their art practices and creative decision making. They’ll also share the inventive, always creative work-arounds they've implemented to participate.

NOTE: Participation in this panel discussion is limited to artists who identify as having a disability. We ask that you please abide by this request. For access related questions, please email April Hubbard at jrgsocietyforthearts@gmail.com

Funding Access: Where’s the Money? | October 23 | 11-12:30 p.m.

Funding Access: Where’s the Money? is a panel discussion with the goal of bringing the disability arts community together over our shared experiences of navigating funding barriers, finding solutions, and raising awareness of the desire for fairer and more inclusive funding processes.

This panel will be moderated by Cyn Rozeboom, Executive Director at Tangled Art Gallery, with panelists representing different perspectives and lived experiences within the Disability, Deaf and Mad arts communities who specialize in areas of disability art, activism, organizing and more.

The panel will discuss their experiences accessing funding, any barriers they’ve encountered, as well as unique issues of which funders may not be aware.

NOTE: Participation in this panel discussion is limited to artists who identify as having a disability. We ask that you please abide by this request. For access related questions, please email April Hubbard at jrgsocietyforthearts@gmail.com

A Conversation with Funders | October 23 | 4:30-5:30 p.m.

A Conversation with Funders will be a panel consisting of the Disability Atlantic Arts Symposium planning committee, and a representative from each of the four Atlantic provincial arts funders, ArtsNb, ArtsNS, ArtsNL and Innovation PEI.

The DAAS planning committee members are disability artists representing each Atlantic province. April Hubbard (Nova Scotia), Paul Power (NewFoundLand), Alexis Bulman (Prince Edward Island) and Yasabelle Vautour (New Brunswick).

Join us as we dive into a conversation about the different grant programs available to artists, access tools or barriers that exist within current funding applications, identify inclusive practices that are being implemented, and address new opportunities that could enhance the careers of artists with disabilities to practice, thrive and share their work with a wider public. This panel will take audience questions, so come curious!

Access Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89458744216?pwd=YlVkRGllVUc5MG9wMnVpNlVIVVZNZz09

Cabaret Event! | October 24 | 7:00 p.m.

Taking the form of an online open space available to registered participants of the Disability Atlantic Arts Symposium and to the general public, the cabaret will highlight national artists with Disabilities, intended to bolster Atlantic Canadian talent and create community.

The cabaret will be hosted by the hilarious comedian Josh Mentions and showcases a line-up of pre-recorded acts including spoken word poetry, drag, burlesque, circus and contemporary art performances!

The cabaret will be a place to come together, unwind and celebrate at the end of the Disability Arts Symposium. Most importantly, the cabaret will ignite the formation of an Atlantic Canadian Disability arts network.

Access Link: https://youtu.be/TNMkyydgPmI

About DAAS 2021

The planning committee for the 2021 DAAS is:

• Paul Power, Newfoundland
• April Hubbard, Nova Scotia
• Ysabelle Vautour, New Brunswick
• Alexis Bulman, Prince Edward Island

Event Funders:

Dept. Canadian Heritage, ArtsNL, ArtsNS, ArtsNB, Innovation PEI, National Arts Centre.

Event Sponsor: The Patterson Group

Event Partners: disabilityX Halifax, Theatre New Brunswick, Power Productions, JRG Society For the Arts, and Creating Access.