How do we embrace difference and engender an inclusivity in the cultural and creative sectors?

A Symposium

Together with Dr. Vishalakshi Roy, Assistant Professor at School of Creative Arts, Performance and Visual Cultures (SCAPVC), University of Warwick and Andrea Pulford Director of Planning and Operations at Warwick Arts Centre, Helga Henry and Lara Ratnaraja the Co-Producers of AD:Vantage wanted to further explore inclusion and how, by investing in people with different vantage points and perspectives we can drive fresh/ new thinking and innovation in the cultural and heritage sector.

This symposium explores the frameworks, learnings and conditions that are needed to disrupt the ableist infrastructure that inhibits the participation of d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent cultural leaders, artists and audiences.

Click the LINKLink opens in a new window for more details

Helen Martin Studio at Warwick Arts Centre, [Breakout Space ( Quiet Space) Creative Learning Space]

University of Warwick Coventry, CV4 7AL Directions HERELink opens in a new window

This event is BSL interpreted

April 7th 11-15:30

11:00 Welcome and coffee- Andrea PulfordLink opens in a new window Director of Planning and Operations, Warwick Arts Centre and Kulbir ShergillLink opens in a new window Director of Social Inclusion, University of Warwick

11.15 Keynote in conversation with Helga HenryLink opens in a new window inc Q&A (Sonia BouéLink opens in a new window)

12.00 Lunch

12.45 Diversity and Inclusion: Provocations and Discussion Lara RatnarajaLink opens in a new window and Helga Henry

Lara and Helga have a growing ambition that “diverse cultural practitioners should be at the vanguard of effecting systemic change at an individual and organisational level and disrupt the default setting as regards disability and intersectional diversity.” They seek to emulate what they consider to be outdated models of “charismatic”, “command and control” or authority-based leadership. Those models have created and upheld institutions which routinely discriminate and exclude.

How do we create a model of reflective 21st Century leadership that works in the reality of the lives of disabled, neurodiverse or D/deaf people?

13.15 Diversity in Leadership Panel:

Chair: Dr. Vishalakshi RoyLink opens in a new window Assistant Professor, The Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies, University of Warwick, Navkiran Kaur MannLink opens in a new window, Creative Arts Producer and Ayesha JonesLink opens in a new window, Artist

Leadership is either as a leading exponent of an artform, a leading thinker in practice, a leading activist in a cause – leading life with purpose and vision and having the skills to make that happen at a scale and scope and impact that’s right for the individual. When that notion is informed through a lens of disability, it takes it back to the purpose and vision and creating work that is authentically of that individual. The lens of disability also brings into focus the need to adapt, be flexible, be patient and to accept that the way may be harder, more repetitive, and slower than the timetable of people without disabilities or challenges of any type. However, those skills, plus the innovation, inventiveness, and tenacity that many artists with disabilities show, are precisely the skills needed in this sector at this time at a leadership level.

14:00-14:30 Coffee break

14:30-15:15 Creating & Presenting Content Accessibly Panel: Andrea Pulford Warwick Arts Centre, and Laura ElliotLink opens in a new window CEO /Corey Campbell Link opens in a new windowArtistic Director The Belgrade.

What does collaboration look like in real life and not in theory? How can we model collaboration in the development of 21st Century leaders both as a source of equity support for disabled practitioners and as a means of them to have agency in their creative leadership?

15:15-15:30 Wrap and close Helga Henry and Dr Vishalakshi Roy