Artists Harry Josephine Giles and Sasha Saben Callaghan have brought together contributions of art and ideas which show what the arts in Scotland could and should be like for disabled artists in the post pandemic era.
Not Going Back to Normal is a gallery manifesto by disabled artists. Published as a website and a book, the project combines visual art, poetry, manifestos and more in a radical call for accessibility.
This launch event will include contributions from the project curators, Harry Josephine Giles and Sasha Saben Callaghan, Amanda Catto, Head of Visual Arts, Creative Scotland, Siobhan Carroll, Collective and readings from participating artists Jeda Pearl Lewis, Julie Farrell and Simon Yuill.
Free event, donations requested. Please book in advance via Eventbrite.
This event will have live audio transcription. We have a budget to meet other access needs, including BSL interpretation, so please email mail@collective-edinburgh.art if you need anything to support your participation.
Not Going Back to Normal is produced by Collective and is supported by a group of Scottish visual arts organisations working on improving disability access and inclusion. They are: Arika, Artlink, CCA, DCA, Glasgow School of Art Exhibitions, Project Ability and the Scottish Sculpture Workshop.
Collective Observations
Historically observations made from the City Observatory on Calton Hill, have re-shaped how we view and relate to the world around us. It is where astronomers observed and calculated accurate time, aiding ships docked in Leith to navigate and connecting Edinburgh to the world. It is also where the artist Robert Barker created the first panorama, expanding the pictorial field and horizon. As custodians of this site, Collective are inspired by the history of ingenuity but we understand that narrative of progress is incomplete and complicated.
This autumn we present Collective Observations - a series of online events which explore these complications, re-question the dominant narratives of the past, and consider these in our current social and political landscape.
Online Event Code of Conduct
Collective is dedicated to providing a harassment-free online environment for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, or religion.
We ask all participants to be respectful, to listen to the moderator and other participants, and not to dominate the conversation. Read our full Code of Conduct here
Image Description: Dollface. The porcelain head of a doll stands out from a black background. The face is covered in tiny cracks and the top of the head is broken, revealing Victorian scrap paper and flowers inside. One of the doll’s eyes is ringed with pearls. It wears drop earrings and a choker decorated with a gold key. Copyright Sasha Saben Callaghan 2019.