Artists with diverse abilities redefine the art scene by breaking barriers

Artists with diverse abilities are increasingly being recognised for their contributions.

They use their art to challenge stereotypes, overcome personal challenges, and push for a more open and accessible art community, as showcased in the Unlimited Art Exhibition at the Southbank Centre.

This growing recognition shows the need for more spaces in the art world where all artists’ contributions are valued and appreciated.

Artist like Hannah Sampson, a senior dancer with down syndrome use their work to communicate emotions and experiences.

Sampson said: “My goal is to break barriers down.

“I’ve had so many wonderful people in my life who supported my career.

“I hope my performances help to change the way people perceive me and others.”

Hannah began dancing at the age of five, then joined Stopgap Youth Dance Company when she was 12 years old and she has been a senior dance artist in the dance company since 2017.

She performed at The Royal Albert Hall in front of King Charles and members of the armed forces for Remembrance Day 2023, and at the Closing Celebration for the Tokyo Paralympics at Wembley Stadium in 2021.

She sees getting to perform as a highlight for her because she can be a role model for other people with downs syndrome.

Sampson said: “As a person with downs syndrome, it is important for me that people like me can have the confidence to speak up for themselves, strive and drive to reach for their aims and goals.

“I know that on a personal level, I’d like to be welcomed, visible and to be listened to.”

Stopgap Dance Company is a leading integrated dance company based in the UK brings together disabled and non-disabled dancers to create inclusive and creative performances.

Sampson explained the challenges they face were not because of their disabilities, but barriers from the world we live in.

She said: “I’m a proud disabled dancer, getting to this point in my career has taken me 14 years.

“I hope having this platform shows wider society that it’s possible for people like me to work successfully in any career of your choice in the arts industry.”

Photographer Suzie Larke is from Cardiff express herself as neurodivergent and her project In the Mind’s Eye details her own experiences of struggles with her mental health in photos.

Larke said: “Depictions of mental health struggles, and very stereotypical shot of someone sitting in the corner of a room with their head in their hands, like crying or under the blanket, isn’t it very stereotype things?

“This is very stereotypical, and it’s always used in any article you see around mental health and I think it is oversimplifies a very multifaceted experience.”

Her project Unseen was another of those on display at Unlimited in September, which was hailed as the largest UK festival celebrating the work of disabled artists and featured a diverse line up of exciting performance, dance, literature, comedy, music and visual art.

For the photographic project, Larke used fine art photography to depict mental health experiences.

She said there was so many different elements to her own experience of struggles with mental wellbeing and part of the reason there was a lack of education around very commonplace mental health struggles.

Larke said: “I’m neurodivergent, but even things like, I didn’t really consider, having a quiet space is an access and it’s, it’s really, beneficial to people.

“Often disabled art and disabled artists, normally the exhibitions are the ones that are kind of like in the corridor on the way to the toilets.

“That’s been seen in the past but it shouldn’t be that, and they’re a great organisation for celebrating disabled art.”

Paraorchestra is the world’s first integrated orchestra of disabled and non-disabled professional musicians.

Based in Bristol, the group includes around 40 members, aims to break down barriers for disabled musicians and redefine the traditional music by creating inclusive performances.

Jonathan Harper, chief executive of Paraorchestra, explained the organisation’s mission.

He said: “Why shouldn’t talented disabled musicians play alongside non-disabled musicians in the greatest concert halls in the world?

“We want to enable disabled musicians and composers to become future leaders in their own right.”

Paraorchestra offers skills development courses, talks, residencies, and funding opportunities through its Modulate program, created in consultation with their ensemble.

Harper said they made sure disabled musicians can perform and tour with non-disabled musicians by providing the right support, accessible accommodations, and venue adjustments.

However, financial challenges, such as inflation and rising costs at venues, have created additional hurdles to their work.

Harper added: “If fees are going down and costs are going up, these factors create a further economic challenge to touring.

“In Paraorchestra’s case, we wouldn’t be able to do this without the vital support of public funders.”

Most recently, Paraorchestra performed Górecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs as an immersive live experience at the Southbank Centre.

Despite their talent, artists with diverse abilities often face significant challenges.

Accessibility issues, limited funding, and social stigma can restrict their artistic journey.

Organisations like We Are Unlimited play an important role in supporting artists with diverse abilities.

The organisation provide resources, funding opportunities, and platforms to showcase their work for disable artists in the UK since 2013.

Jo Verrent, director of We Are Unlimited said: “Our aim is to change the cultural sector – to make it so accessible and inclusive to disabled artists that we don’t have to be here.

“We are showing disabled artists are just as good as non-disabled artists – if not better.

“We ensure venues and promoters, festivals and events can diversify their programming.

“We’d love to see disabled artists appearing as 23% of all programmes and activities, as disabled people make up 23% of the UK population.”

She explained how they provide guidance, resources and more to develop relationships, make connections and support both the disabled artists they fund and the sector in making change.

The challenges to reaching any audience at the moment are venues booking work.

Verrent said: “Venues, festivals and events are caught in a very difficult financial situation at the moment – booking less work and booking it at cheaper rates than ever before due to reduced funding themselves and myriad difficult circumstances in the world right now.

“It’s a hard time to be an artist and a hard time to be a disabled person right now. We exist to try and readdress that imbalance.”

Recent exhibitions, such as Unlimited, have drawn attention to the remarkable contributions of these artists.

Southbank Centre artistic director Mark Ball said the Unlimited festival underlined their commitment to being the nation’s most culturally democratic and expressive space for artists and audiences.