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Blog - Europe

When Letty Went to Norway

June 4, 2019 - by

I went to Norway at the start of this month. Then I came back and spent 23 days trying to write a blog post about it. I’m not exaggerating (well, not much) when I say I sat down every evening and tried to get something down, but I just couldn’t. ...

Surroundings Blog 4

June 3, 2019 - by

The installation/performance of ‘Surroundings‘ at the South London Gallery on the 24th of April this year was well received, judging from the follow up discussion and comments in the audience questionnaires. And as ‘Surroundings’ is an R&D project, feedback is an essential process for informing and further developing my experience ...

Breaking Ballroom: A Short Film with a Big Heart

March 15, 2019 - by

‘Be enablers, not disablers’ – these words capture the heart and message behind Breaking Ballroom, a short documentary film produced and directed by film student Dragana Njegic. The film has been selected as a finalist in the Courage Film Festival taking place in Berlin from 4-6th April 2019. The Festival ...

‘Surroundings’ Blog No 2

March 4, 2019 - by

My ACE (Arts Council England) supported R&D (research and development) project ‘Surroundings’ is uncovering some fascinating, evocative and highly emotional stories, experiences and opinions from my volunteer interviewees. The difference between my original vision for how the interviews might pan out and what is actually happening, is as unexpected as ...

Berlin: Cold City, Warm Welcome

December 6, 2018 - by

A few years ago, I would never have dreamt of performing my work in public let alone flying out to Berlin to lecture German students about what it’s like being a British-Asian disabled woman writer. Last year I received an email from Dr. Katrin Röder, a professor at the Humboldt-Universität zu ...

“You’re Not Trans… You’re Autistic!”

November 12, 2018 - by

Aimee Challenor is 20 years. She is a transgender individual and also autistic. She and others from Trans communities feel they have had their Transgender identity undermined by medical professionals because of their autism. This has led to the delaying of gender reassignment procedures. How does it feel to ‘come out’ as Trans, only to have to hide autism? Challenor speaks out ...

Discovering Contemporary Folk Art in Finland and an organisation supporting disability awareness for cultural venues across Finland

October 17, 2018 - by

ITE in Finland translates literally as self-made life. We met with Raija Kallioinen and Minna Havera from the ITE organisation that stated amongst other things they specialised in contemporary Folk Art within Finland - with several examples of it dotted across the offices. Starting life 20 years ago, they ...

In All Good Faith film still 1

In All Good Faith

October 5, 2018 - by

In the latest Praxis-Forum blog, Dionysia Mylonaki talks about their artistic practice.  My practice explores “legitimate” narratives as social, political and economic mechanisms, such as empathy, labour, property and solidarity. I’m interested in trans-disciplinary and open approaches as a way of researching notions of the public and as a tool to critically confront ...

Kaarisilta – A hidden gem in the woods of Finland

September 24, 2018 - by

In late August Tanya and Jennifer traveled overseas to Kaarisilta in Finland, near the small town of Lahti. What we found trapped between trees were some beautiful old farm buildings that, since 1986, have been transformed into the centre that supports disabled artists today – the chicken hut is ...

Four buildings across Edinburgh with a wealth of talent happening behind their doors

September 11, 2018 - by

Tanya and myself managed to squeeze in an afternoon visit to Garvald in Edinburgh on our trip to Scotland. We were greeted at the converted Edwardian school by the Art Studio facilitator and Exhibitions Coordinator Morven MacCrae. Garvald has been going in some form for over fifty years and ...