Artsfest Online: Wednesday 25 November at 7 pm - We are Invisible, We are Visible

As part of UK Disability History Month, the University of Wolverhampton is pleased to present a talk with Mike Layward Artistic Director of DASH (Disability Arts in Shropshire).

In this talk Mike will discuss the last 50 years of Disability Activism and Disability Art looking at:

• The history of disability rights Looking at the different models of disability
• What is Disability Art Briefly looking at some of the disabled artists Neurodivergence
• How's it looking now Mike Layward has worked in the arts for nearly 40 years, as a performer, musician, carnival designer, maker, puppeteer, producer, director and live artist.

Since 1999 Mike has been Artistic Director of DASH (Disability Arts in Shropshire) and has been instrumental in DASH gaining a National reputation as a Disability Visual arts organisation.

Live Art is a strong thread in DASH’s work with 3 Live Artists commissioned as part of Outside IN (2008-2011), to create new work in The New Art Gallery Walsall, Wolverhampton Art Gallery and oriel Davies Gallery Wales. (Sean Burn, Noemi Lakmaier and the Disabled Avant-Garde).

Mike Co-created and produced M21 with the Live Art Development Agency in 2012. M21 is an Unlimited funded project and part of the Cultural Olympiad. Nine new pieces were commissioned by UK and Croatian Live artists. www.m21dash.org Mike’s recent work as the ‘Wandering Jew’ includes:‘Genocide (2009)’: Performed in Shrewsbury as part of Holocaust Memorial day and as part of Sean Burn’s residency at the Stanley Picker gallery.

‘What would you take?’ (2010) : A film piece on dispossession.‘The Politics of Confinement’ (2012) A performance on land enclosures performed at M21. Mike’s philosophy is based on the belief that the arts can be a vehicle for Social change.

Mike has an MA in Activism and Social Change (Leeds University) 2009.

This event is free and can be booked through Eventbrite: https://weareinvisiblewearevisible.eventbrite.co.uk