Category: Review

The Weather Report : Inclusion, Collaboration, Connection Post 2

    

This week I have been reflecting on accessibility and inclusion.

In July for The Weather Report programme I took part in Accessible Marketing training by Paula Dower from DASH. I have started to implement some of the really important changes that I need to make in my communications.

I have also started to recognise some of my own accessibility needs as a neurodiverse artist.

I have always struggled with giving talks and decided to use visual notes with drawings and annotations. This enabled me to remember key points when I gave a talk to fellow artists: Andrew Howe, Jean Atkin, Emma Plover and Jamila Walker Thomas; Olivia Hames from the Hive and Kate Green from Meadow Arts.

A crumpled piece of paper with drawings and written notes on it. There is a lighthouse drawn on the left with the Dates 1620 and 2020 written on it. Some railings and the letters T-A-P and the name Kim Wide. On the right there is a drawing of New Zealand flax some wavy lines to represent the sea, 2019 NZ and the name Jasmine Teei are written. In the centre ACE is circled and underneath it SSR with a picture of clasped hands beneath. At the bottom the word PLYM-SEPT , T Severn + Hive Shrewsbury; Dragon Barmouth, Old Art School Raglan NZ. ( BSL) Wolverhampton Arena Theatre. Meadow : Share
My visual notes for a talk about The Weather Report. They include important dates, images and tour venues.

In other news:

I attended The Body as Vessel: Priya Mistry AKA What’s the Big Mistery, provoking, evoking and amplifying. (Axis Web)

I Visited British Columbia and was inspired by indigenous knowledge. I found affinity with Raven who teaches us to be creative, playful and curious.

A black stone carving of a dancing raven figure with human legs and feet mounted on a cedar tree trunk base.
Raven Dancer- Contemporary Blackstone Carving. Koskas ( Billy Dan ) Lilwat Nation, 2004

I’ve just booked a course in Mental Health First Aid with St John’s Ambulance. This will help deal with any issues that come up during workshops. It will help create a safer space.

This new knowledge will be embraced and disseminated in The Weather Report Inclusion Tool- Kit.