BAN Seminar: Quality Dis/Abled

This seminar explores how quality within art practice is judged between people facing barriers, identity as disabled, and D/deaf disabled persons and non-disabled counterparts.

The quality of artwork has consistently been judged by ableist standards within the arts towards disabled people. This seminar will explore what contributes to these standards and what they are. Exploring this will open up discussion as to what makes quality arts practice, what the barriers are for disabled people and how this can this turn into positive change.

The seminar was held on 24th October 2023 via Zoom 11 am - 4pm with BSL interpretation provided by Ali Gordon and Emily Howlite. Youtube BSL interpretation by Dionne Simpson.

Speakers include:

Mike Layward , has been the artistic director of DASH (Disability Arts Shropshire) for the past 23 years and recently moved on to be a freelancer and an art student. Mike discussed the assessment of quality as a disabled art student.

Claire Penketh, Professor of Disability Studies in Art Education and Head of Disability Studies at Liverpool Hope University. Discussed the tensions within accessing ability within arts education and their impacts.

Tate Teams, Gustavo Grandal Montero is an art librarian and researcher, working in Tate Library and collections, and an engagement officer. Adrian Glew, Tate Archives manages the National Archive of British Art. Alice Insley Tate Britain curator c.1730 - 1830. Will be in conversation with Martin Myrone who discussed inclusion and change.

Paula Orrell, is the lead for Visual Arts South West and the Director of CVAN England. Paula will discuss being a curator, and how after over twenty years in the sector has she felt brave enough to discuss the impact of being dyslexic. Paula will presented her approach to creative curating, how she uses visual images and relates artists' ideas rather than through more formal practices of exhibition making. She also discussed an idea for an exhibition that considers the value system of works of art and how quality is judged.

Christopher Samuels is a multi-disciplinary artist whose practice is rooted in identity and disability politics, often echoing the many facets of his own lived experience. Christopher, an artist living with a chronic illness has often had to work out his own routes to navigate the arts sector. In this talk, Christopher discussed how notions of 'QUALITY' have impacted my practice.

Quality Disabled seminar was funded by the British Art Network and Paul Mellon Centre.