Disrupting sighted ableism is a key strategic area of Vitae Veritas that prioritises the equal opportunity, inclusion, and leadership of people who are blind, or have low vision in arts and culture and their right to artistic and economic sustainability; and is the artistic and community cultural development activities and projects that complement and scaffold our consultancy, education and training work.

DSA’s intentional programs address the need to promote the growth and confidence of transdisciplinary disabled communities to engage with complexities of ableism in the context of the performing and visual arts and creative industries and drive opportunities in this sector to adapt in purposeful ways to challenge and redress incongruous standards and designs of accessibility.

Through VV working in partnerships, bringing people, ideas and resources together, increasing awareness and public education, improving access to information and tools, codesigning effective engagement and collaboration, being proactive with the fundamental challenges, barriers and expectations that exist in the arts, Disrupting sighted ableism aims to:

• Critically reconfigure the role and value of b/Blind and vision impaired artists & audiences
• Create pivotal spaces where artistic expression and accessibility is shifted and reimagined to allow new and experimental performing arts forms, creative practices & aesthetics to emerge
• Harness diversity in collaboration by centring artists who are blind or have low vision, as well as disabled artists and creative access allies and practitioners, to exchange strategies, tools and methodologies that embed access in performance, production, process and systems, as well as audience engagement experiences.

Header image by Carla Gottgens.

Image description:

An image of Alex Craig, lit in natural light, and Jeremy Lowrencev on stage as part of Arts House and VV's CultureLab project called Disrupting sighted ableism. In background seated on floor against black curtain is other co-performer Imogen Yang. Alex stands to the left of Jeremy who is curled up on floor. Alex's left arm is extended out from their side in diagonal line pointing towards his feet. Both performers eyes are closed. 

Related links:

• About VV
• DSA 2022
• DSA 2023
• Consultancy, Training and Education
• Audio Description and Tactile Tours
• Audio described events