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The Accentuate Symposium
Friday 5th July 2013
Sallis Benney Theatre, University of Brighton


One year on from the Paralympic Games – what is the positive legacy for the Cultural Sector and what are the challenges and opportunities ahead of us?

The Accentuate Symposium, exploring the cultural legacy one year on from the Paralympic Games, took place on, Friday 05 July 2013.  It was live-streamed and recorded so you can still experience it by watching the event at this link www.accentuatesymposium.public-i.tv.

You will also be able to see the films which have been commissioned from Tom Shakespeare, Jenny Sealey, Dame Evelyn Glennie and more.

As an incubator for ideas and leader of cultural discussion within the disability context, Accentuate was keen to explore if there has been a cultural shift for disabled people one year on from the hugely successful Paralympic Games.  Therefore we partnered with The University of Brighton to bring together leaders within the cultural sector to discuss what was working well, as well as the challenges being faced.  This event explored how we consolidate gains a year on from the Paraylmpic Games and map the new territory.

The Paralympic Games offered a platform to profile disabled athletes at a level that had never been seen before.  Public attitudes were noticeably shifted, along with the sort of media attention which moved us from “tragic and brave” towards genuine discussion about sporting talent.  There was also a spotlight on creative talent, through the Cultural Olympiad events along with the spectacular opening ceremony for the Paralympic Games.  The future looked bright.  So where are we now?  It seems there may have been a reversion of focus.  Very many disabled people have real concerns and fears. So how can we continue the positive sea change in attitudes towards disabled people, that we witnessed during Games time, as well as providing real access to opportunities for disabled people to develop career pathways within the creative and cultural industries?

At this critical juncture we believed we must provide evidence of the success stories and celebrate, because without these, how can we regret their potential loss?

The Accentuate Symposium, in partnership with the University if Brighton, on 5th July 2013 at the Sallis Benney Theatre, Brighton, brought together key academics, cultural leaders and disabled people and provided a platform to spark this discussion.   A headline panel debate was followed by three further panels exploring Disability Heritage and the Built Environment, Artists working in the Public Realm and Disabled Young People Building Resilience.  Accentuate premiered a new animated short lecture by Dr. Tom Shakespeare which introduced some of the key themes for the headline panel.

 

Symposium Programme

Animated Lecture, Dr. Tom Shakespeare

Headline Panel: How do we consolidate the gains and map new territory, a year on from the Paralympic Games?

Chair: Esther Fox, Accentuate Programme Director
Panellists:

  • Liz Crow, Artist and Activist
  • Hannah Morgan, Lancaster University
  • Professor Nick Watson, Strathclyde Centre for Disability Research
  • Dr Alison Wilde, Bangor University
  • Hannah Morgan, Lancaster University
  • Jamie Beddard, Actor and Director
  • Rachel Gadsden, Artist and performer
  • John Harris, Paralympian

Case Study Panel 1:  Young Voices Challenge and Change.

Chair:  Kristina Veasey, Paralympian, Artist and Accentuate Ideas Hub Member
Panellists:

  • Kim Aumann, Director of ART Amaze and part of the University of Brighton’s resilience department
  • William Jessop, Writer and Filmmaker, Blue Apple Theatre
  • Adam Simmons, Young participant
  • Vicky Hope Walker, Driving Inspiration

Case Study Panel 2: Disability Heritage: Disabled People Shaping the Built Environment throughout the Ages.

Chair:  Colin Hambrook, Writer and Editor of Disability Arts Online and Accentuate Ideas Hub Member
Panellists:

  • Rosie Sherrington, Social Inclusion and Diversity Advisor, English Heritage
  • Dr David Bonnet, Architect and specialist in inclusive design
  • John D Walker, Senior Research Fellow, Deaf History, CUPP, University of Brighton
  • Mark Ware, Installation Artist


Case Study Panel 3: Disabled Artists Forging Careers in the Public Realm.

Chair:  Jon Adams, Artist and Accentuate Ideas Hub Member
Panellists:

  • Jonathan Banks, Chief Executive of Public Art Think Tank, Ixia
  • Wendy Mason, Director, AA2A, Artists Accessing Art Colleges
  • Carole McFadden, Drama & Dance Adviser for East Asia, China & Hong Kong, Middle East and North Africa, Arts Group, British Council
  • Zoe Partington

Closing remarks - Vidar Hjardeng MBE

We will also be showing a series of specially commissioned films which include contributions from: Dame Evelyn Glennie, Jenny Sealy MBE, Sophie Christiansen OBE, Dr David Bonnett RIBA FRSA, Nicholas McCarthy, Mat Fraser, Laurence Clark, Katherine Araniello, Hannah Cockroft MBE and David Proud.

There will be an opportunity for drinks and networking at the end of the event.

During drinks and networking you will also be invited to view the MA Inclusive Arts Practice Exhibition, which will be taking place in the Foyer next to the Sallis Benney Theatre.

The Accentuate Symposium is held in partnership with the University of Brighton.

For further information on The Accentuate Symposium email: info@accentuateuk.org

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