DaDaFest
DaDaFest is a disability and Deaf arts organisation based in Liverpool with a national and international reputation for pioneering arts delivered to high standards of accessibility. Working from the lived experience of disability, DaDaFest delivers a biennial festival and other arts events to promote high quality disability and Deaf arts from unique cultural perspectives.
Our vision is to inspire, develop and celebrate talent and excellence in disability and deaf arts.
- “Gold Lamé” by Tony Heaton as part of DaDaFest International 2014. A gold coloured Invacar hangs from the ceiling of a large room.
- Sophie Partridge performs “Song of Semmersuaq” at DaDaFest International 2014.
- Liz Carr and Julie McNamara rehearse “The Ugly Girl” as part of DaDaFest International 2014.
- Krip Hop Nation at DaDaFest International 2014. A variety of performs are pictured dancing, the focus is on a wheelchair user who is singing into a microphone.
- Staff Benda Bilili performing as part of DaDaFest International 2014. The musicians sit in wheelchairs, some are palying guitars while others sing. They are bathed in a bright blue light.
- DaDaFest Staff and Volunteers pose for a photo with Staff Benda Bilili at DaDaFest International 2014.
- Two young people hold a large piece of red fabric as part of a performance at Young DaDaFest 2015
- Several young people stand on stage, some where Liverpool and Everton FC scarfs whilst another wears a pantomime dress. Part of Young DaDaFest 2015.
- Over 100 young people perform on stage at the finale of Young DaDaFest 2015.
- A young man dressed as Elvis points upwards during a performance at Young DaDaFest 2015.
DaDa – Disability and Deaf Arts, the company behind DaDaFest has been delivering Disability arts projects since it was first founded as Arts Integrated Merseyside or AIM [part of the Shape network] in 1984.
It became one of the first disability control-led Arts Forums, breaking away from Shape in 1986 and eventually being set up in 1990 as North West Disability Arts Forum [or NWDAF].
After delivering a successful DaDaFest annually since 2001, the festival continued as a biennial event from 2010 and remained truly ambitious and international in scale.
DaDaFest International 2016
This year’s festival, DaDaFest’s thirteenth since its inception in 2001, will take place from 18 November to 3 December 2016. The festival will present high quality and exciting work produced by artists close to their home in Liverpool as well as internationally that will challenge ideals and celebrate disability culture. An exciting programme of music, dance, live arts, comedy and much more is in the pipeline – with more details to be released soon.
Visit: www.dadafest.co.uk/the-festival to see the programme as it develops.
