Listen to this post: 

First things first. Have you checked out the DIStopia podcast or checked out the DisArt Festival? I love their unapologetic embracing of the “dis” to celebrate disability culture. Now there’s one more way to get involved.

DisArt is producing a symposium called Disability Arts Now! They’re taking submissions for presentations and workshops through August 15th.

From their website: Disability Arts have emerged as one of the most dynamic and culturally significant contemporary art practices of the last 20 years, gaining international momentum through exhibitions, performances and festivals. DisArt Symposium: Disability Arts Now! will gather together academics, critics, artists, designers, and arts organization professionals to consider the current state of Disability Arts and its future, exploring together the multitude of dialogues embedded in the dynamic fusion of human disability and contemporary art.

Space is limited. They’ll consider 20 minute papers, artist talks, workshop proposals, and performances from all potential participants (academics, artists, professionals). They’re most interested in proposals that align with the interests and keywords of their keynote speakers. Just a few examples of those would be disability arts and identity, disability arts as outsider art, how arts organizations and institutions make accommodations, disability arts history, and integrating disability arts into local arts cultures. You can check out more suggested topics on the submission info page.

The keynote speakers are Riva Lehrer (with a grand exhibition of her work), Ruth Gould, and Sara Hendren.

Submission Guidelines
Submissions for papers, panels, or artist talks should be sent to Chris@DisArtFestival.org. Use the subject line “Symposium Submission” and get him your proposal by the deadline, August 15, 2016.

Symposium is April 13-15, 2017
Grand Rapids, Michigan