Why the Change?

If ArtISability was so successful; Why am I changing the format? The format change is about returning to my original vision to support artists living with disabilities to engage in the life of their local artists, not to reprocate services already available in the Ipswich Community. In a way ARTisability achieve my personal goal to reconnect with other people with disabilities.

My ultimate goal is to assist people with disabilities to participate in community life and raise up people with disability into leadership positions. Many support services currently support people to enjoy art and craft activities. The CPL runs a support art studio where artists can develop their skills, create new work, exhibit and sell their work.

However as individual artists those living with disability in Ipswich have no support to extend their professional skills. All artists living in Ipswich have to travel to business to undertake studies that will provide them with formal qualifications. Qualifications you need to work in the Queenslands Arts Industry.

In terms of access to education every visual arts student faces access issues, for those with physical disability were a left to founder to develop skills in less formal settings. However that is just the beginning of the access issues for those living with disabilities.  We live in a beautiful historical city, where many buildings are no go zones.

People do no need the use of their legs to create beautiful art. Yet the hugest barrier exists in convincing, the Ipswich arts community that this is possible. 

Running ArtISability workshops has gone along way in highlighting the barriers for artists with disability, but it has not allowed artists to be totally include.  Even those who support my program think building peoples self esteem is the essential tasks. Imagine if I suggested that concept to the indigenous community.

Through workshops Artisablity can only offer very limited choice. The reality is we don't add a great deal of options in the visual arts field.  The switch to a mentorship bases program offers both choice and flexibility for artists of all abilities.  It uses local artists with skills, knowledge and networks to connect emerging artists to our vibrate arts community.

Ignite Artists wants to employ local artists to mentor artists, passing on both artistic skills and profession skills to allow individual arts and our arts community to grow.  Each of us has something to offer those just venturing into the arts.  We can all support, encourage and connect others.

If you are interested in being involved in the network in anyway. I need to know in the next week.  I wanting to give artists the support they need to take their work to the next level.

Please email us at admin@igniteartists.com.au so we can at least register your interests.