Disability, the Arts and Inclusion

This stream explores how disability is framed in creative production and its potential to disrupt or challenge disabling narratives. How do African writers, artists, musicians, or other cultural producers portray disability? How does artistic representation celebrate the abilities of persons with disabilities? To what extent does it highlight the challenges faced by many persons with disabilities in African contexts? What is the potential of different forms of representation to disrupt or challenge harmful beliefs and attitudes about disability, and to what extent do they propose solutions? What is the role of indigenous art forms in promoting inclusion? Can the arts be engaged to change attitudes towards persons with disabilities? We invite proposals which respond to one or more of these questions to explore the significance of the arts in shaping ideas about disability in African contexts.

Please send queries and questions to Charlotte Baker, Professor of French and Critical Disability Studies at Lancaster University, c.baker@lancaster.ac.uk