Cultivating spaces for extraordinary artists
DASH Uplift in NPO Funding
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
Press release 4th November 2022
DASH: Cultivating spaces for extraordinary artists
DASH is pleased to announce that Arts Council England has approved an uplift in funding for the organisation as part of their investment programme for the period 2023 – 2026.
This essential funding means that we can continue our important work as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO), removing the barriers to access for Disabled people in the visual arts, and establishing Disability arts practice as part of the mainstream. With the additional investment DASH will be equipped to deliver with greater ambition, force, and impact, through a more strategically driven and sector-leading role on Disability at the national level.
Our Chair, Craig Ashley, said: “D/deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent people remain significantly underrepresented as audiences, participants, creatives, and decision-makers across the creative industries. Arts Council England’s investment today demonstrates their steadfast commitment to bringing about change, by enabling DASH to step up our efforts to tackle the causes and symptoms of this systemic inequality. The funding they have committed today will transform our organisation, helping us to grow and make more of a difference in the communities we serve.”
Area Director for Arts Council England, Peter Knott, said: "Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy great art and culture, no matter where they live in the country, which is why we're delighted to have increased our investment in DASH over the next three years. It'll be great to see them continue to support disabled visual artists, as well as using our funding to host the West Midlands Contemporary Visual Arts Network."
Over the next three years the additional investment means we can consolidate and build upon our current position as an active voice within prominent national and regional visual arts networks. It will afford a responsive programme of work that builds on the significant achievements of DASH to date, supporting Disabled people in creative practice at all stages – from aspiring artists to sector leaders. Increased funding means we will be able to grow our Disabled-led team, helping us to lead by example and blaze a trail towards a more radically accessible and inclusive sector.
DASH is delighted to host New Art West Midlands, the contemporary visual arts network for the West Midlands, as part of its National Portfolio Organisation funding from Arts Council England.
In preparation for the work ahead, DASH has recently undergone a rigorous period of organisational development and strategic review. Three new trustees have recently joined our dynamic board of trustees, and we will shortly be recruiting for a new Artistic Director / CEO to lead the organisation in our exciting next chapter. Together, we are prepared to grapple with the significant challenges facing Disabled artists over the next 3 years, intensified by COVID19 inequality and the cost-of-living crisis. And together, we are ready to respond to the opportunity of a sector and society that is finally taking notice of our potential.
The board and staff would like to say thank you to Arts Council England for their continued support. Together, much good has been achieved to address inequality over the years. We look forward to working with them to achieve the outcomes of the ‘Let’s Create’ Strategy for artists, communities, and audiences. We extend our thanks too, to all our supporters who have made it possible to continue our work throughout the challenging past few years; our partners across the arts and cultural sector, our funders and all the individuals, artists, curators, freelancers, and participants who work to make DASH a success.
Arts Council England Chair, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: “As well as continuing our commitment to our many established and renowned cultural organisations, I am deeply proud of the support we will be giving to those new organisations which will help ignite creativity across the country. We are facing economic pressures at present but this funding is about an investment in our future. This portfolio will support the next generation of visionary inventors, makers, performers and artists. In particular, the growth of our funding for organisations that support and develop work for children represents a profoundly important long-term investment in our country’s talent.”
Contact Craig Ashley
Telephone 07770 787725
Email chair@dasharts.org
Website www.dasharts.org
Notes to Editors
Notes to Editors:
DASH is a Disabled-led, visual arts charity with a vision for a world where Disability Art is equally valued. Our mission is to affect sector change, removing barriers to access and establishing Disability Arts practice as mainstream. Our activities aim to tackle systemic inequalities to create space for extraordinary artists to work and be heard.
Talent development is core to what we do, supporting Disabled, D/deaf and Neurodivergent people to develop and express their creativity. Our programmes range from high profile commissioning and curatorial development to mentoring and training for those aged 18 and over. We provide access support, ensuring Disabled artists and arts workers can apply for funding without disadvantage.
DASH started in Shropshire in 2001 and over the past 20 years we have grown to occupy a unique position in the visual arts ecology at the national level. We bring valued insight and expertise to advise arts organisations on access and Disability Arts practice, and through embedded partnerships we create defining opportunities to help make a more diverse, accessible, inclusive sector.
From our base in Shropshire, throughout the Midlands and nationally through partner networks, examples of our activity and impact include:
- courses for Young Disabled Artists (18-30yrs) introducing the history of art from a Disability Arts perspective, diversifying reference points beyond a monocultural mainstream, strengthening confidence through creative practice development
- online mentoring and training provision throughout COVID19 for Disabled artists and arts workers, reducing isolation and nurturing talent across the UK and internationally
- curatorial residencies developing Disabled curators and supporting organisational change, partnering with Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, Midlands Arts Centre, and Wysing Arts Centre
In the next decade, DASH aspires to be sector-leading on Disability and work in partnership to foster inclusive practices across the arts and culture.
DASH Notes to Editors
DASH is a Disabled-led, visual arts charity with a vision for a world where Disability Art is equally valued. Our mission is to affect sector change, removing barriers to access and establishing Disability Arts practice as mainstream. Our activities aim to tackle systemic inequalities to create space for extraordinary artists to work and be heard.
Talent development is core to what we do, supporting Disabled, D/deaf and Neurodivergent people to develop and express their creativity. Our programmes range from high profile commissioning and curatorial development to mentoring and training for those aged 18 and over. We provide access support, ensuring Disabled artists and arts workers can apply for funding without disadvantage.
DASH started in Shropshire in 2001 and over the past 20 years we have grown to occupy a unique position in the visual arts ecology at the national level. We bring valued insight and expertise to advise arts organisations on access and Disability Arts practice, and through embedded partnerships we create defining opportunities to help make a more diverse, accessible, inclusive sector.
From our base in Shropshire, throughout the Midlands and nationally through partner networks, examples of our activity and impact include:
- courses for Young Disabled Artists (18-30yrs) introducing the history of art from a Disability Arts perspective, diversifying reference points beyond a monocultural mainstream, strengthening confidence through creative practice development
- online mentoring and training provision throughout COVID19 for Disabled artists and arts workers, reducing isolation and nurturing talent across the UK and internationally
- curatorial residencies developing Disabled curators and supporting organisational change, partnering with Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, Midlands Arts Centre, and Wysing Arts Centre
In the next decade, DASH aspires to be sector-leading on Disability and work in partnership to foster inclusive practices across the arts and culture.
Notes to Editors:
See more on Arts Council England’s 2023-26 Investment Programme on their website: www.artscouncil.org.uk/investment23
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk
Following the Covid-19 crisis, the Arts Council developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. We are also one of the bodies responsible for administering the Government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund, of which we delivered over £1 billion to the sector in grants and loans. Find out more at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19
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