Ableism can be defined as “discrimination against individuals with disabilities or the tendency to be prejudiced against and to stereotype them negatively as, for example, less intelligent, non-productive, or dependent on others”. According to the South African Statistics (Stats SA), the number of people living with disabilities in the country is approximately 3 million, equating to about 7.5% of the entire population. Particularly amongst persons with disabilities, 12.5% are for those within the art community.
Art practitioners living with disabilities are a minority in the arts sector of South Africa. Due to this, it is far too easy for these practitioners to be overlooked, excluded, and undermined as artists, which unfortunately categorises them as a marginalised and vulnerable group within our society. Kimberley-based artist, Tshegofatso Appie is determined to dismantle the boundaries held against art practitioners living with disabilities with his project, the ‘Disability Arts League’.
The ‘Disability Arts League’ project held in the Northern Cape and North West provinces aims to provide skills development through dance training programs and a performance platform for dancers living with disabilities.
The project began with consultations with special-needs schools and local artists in the Frances Baard district to source and select the participating dancers. A series of dance and choreography workshops were held to capacitate the dancers with the necessary skills and resources needed to perform in a dance production. Following the training programs and scheduled rehearsals, the artist then participated in the main dance performance production.
Tshegofatso writes, “There is a need for an increased awareness and understanding of disability arts, an improved access to arts education for disabled people, and an increased participation of disabled people in the arts sector. The project built communal and social cohesion whilst challenging stereotypes and misconceptions about disability. This is what was beautiful about this project”.
With the financial support of the National Arts Council through its Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme, the ‘Disability Arts League’ project was able to provide over 30 job opportunities, excluding the opportunities provided to the participating dancers. Throughout July 2023, several arts performance sessions were held in the Frances Baard district, allowing many dancers living with disabilities to participate.
The ‘Disability Arts League’ project has made a valuable impact on the arts sector and the persons/artists living with disabilities. The project has transformed the arts sector by promoting inclusivity among persons living with disabilities and supporting the involvement of artists who are excluded from the sector because of their disabilities. Increased access to markets was created through collaboration and partnership with other dance organisations, resulting in increased career and skill development opportunities for the organisations and the participating dancers.