Moving Portraits stage 02 receives arts Council England DYCP award 2024 & the John Feeney Fellowship

Immersive video installation capturing the lived experiences of people with complex disabilities. This project presents a series of portraits that are translated by combining cinematography, choreography, sound composition, audio description and vibration technology to create a multi sensory, immersive experience. Funded by Arts Council England in celebration of the Commonwealth Games 2022.

The portraits captured dance sequences from primary and higher education complex disabled dancers, alongside older people and an emerging artist who all interpreted the theme “What it is like being me”.

The work culminated in a video Installation at Birmingham Rep 17th-18th September 2022, where audiences of all abilities could experience dancefilm through, sound, audio description, visuals and wearable technology - subpacks.

Stage Two has been funded by DYCP 2024 to research and develop moving image as an accessible artform. The research will include:
✨ Collaborate with deafblind and complex disabled artists to co-create new work.
✨ Experiment with how immersive and haptic technology can transform moving image into an artform you can see, hear, and feel - guided by mentor Ian Ravenscroft - Green Raven.
✨ Advocate for inclusive programming in mainstream galleries and venues.
✨ Build a creative team with lived experience to explore new ways of inclusive digital storytelling, in partnership with sense arts.

Image credit: Anastasia Jobson