When the news is unsettling, many of us seek out positive stories. This is not about burying our heads in the sand – Community Living regularly reports on difficult issues – but about pursuing balance.
For this reason and to feel some spring optimism, we highlight creative projects and people. Artist Robin Meader sets the tone in his celebratory illustration.
I write about artist Nnena Kalu’s Turner prize win in December; her achievement topped what felt like a significant year for disability representation in culture. Kalu’s win should drive wider understanding of creative achievement its different forms; my sister Raana loves making and, while she will never win any awards, her creativity still has value.
The Turner prize win topped what felt like a significant year for disability representation in culture and should drive understanding of creative achievement in its different forms
We should feel buoyed by cultural and media inclusion, such as on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing or ITV’s interview series The Assembly. Arts correspondent Simon Jarrett, who has covered these shows, writes about a perceptive photography project, Us and Them, from Freewheelers Theatre.
Seen and heard
Jess Thom of arts body Touretteshero describes “connecting people with ideas and with each other in engaging ways”. A recent project explores barriers to play and creative approaches are key to joining in. A similar ethos fuels the Oska Bright Film Festival, which programmer Kirsty Pentecost tells us “gets our voices heard and shows the world what we can do”.
Mary O’Hara also urges us to find hope, writing about the activists fighting cuts in America who are “keeping despondency at bay – and securing some significant wins”.
We need to showcase such positives, whether in activism or arts, because of their potential effects. As the father of young autistic pianist Chapman Shum told me, the family shares his creativity and talks about disability so “more people who may have similar support needs might feel empowered to speak up or… be more visible”.
Saba Salman
Editor
