Today, a year on from the close of #DDFI40 we launch our 2024/2025 impact report.
Visit our website to view our full report including plain text, easy read, BSL summary and opportunity to receive a large print copy.
www.dadafest.co.uk/article/cele...
Thurs 26 March 7-8pm online: Tamm Reynolds presents a new film + Q&A for LGBT+ History Month, responding to the late Katherine Araniello's 'Pity'. In association with Regard. Free. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cripping-the-queer-leg...
📢LAST CHANCE TO APPLY: Digital Residencies
- Based @FACT_Liverpool
- 18-week residencies for early-career artists living in NW England & North Wales.
- £4,500 to develop a digital artwork using Unreal Engine.
- Apply by Tue 31 Mar → www.fact.co.uk/news/2026/03...?
photograph of a woman seated in a richly decorated, colourful interior. She has short grey hair and is wearing glasses and a red headband. Her outfit is vibrant, including necklaces and bracelets. The room is filled with art and decorative objects, including a bright painting of a person riding an elephant, a decorative lampshade with patterned fabric, and a painting with deep blue tones shows a figure holding a child. There's a leafy green plant, and flowers in a yellow jug on the floor.
We are delighted that Reflecting Ourselves is now live for #InternationalWomensMonth - the largest ever exhibition of Disabled women's self-portraits, featuring 50 artists www.together2012.org.uk/activities-programme/202...
Introducing: Our new leadership team
Ben Haslam, CEO/Artistic Director
Faye Christiansen, Operations & Finance Manager
Rachel Rogers, Executive Producer
Announcement📢
DaDa is delighted to announce the appointment of Ben Haslam as Chief Executive Officer/Artistic Director and Faye Christiansen as Operations & Finance Manager, expanding our leadership team.
Read all about it over on our blog:
www.dadafest.co.uk/article/dada...
Join DaDa Young Ensemble is written above a colourised (in purple) photo of a group of young disabled musicians gathered in front of a stage celebrating the end of their performance.
📢Call out for young disabled musicians to join DaDa Young Ensemble.
Are you 14-25?
Do you identify as Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent?
Are you a musician ready to create, collaborate and perform with others?
Apply to info@dadafest.co.uk
More here: www.dadafest.co.uk/article/call...
Image description: Three self portraits of Nancy Willis. Left to right: Self Portrait, 1987, etching (first state); Self Portrait, 1983, pastel on Ingres paper; Self Portrait, 1977, oil on canvas.
Join us on Friday 6 February, 3-4pm for a Self-portrait workshop with artist Nancy Willis. Free.
Nancy will present & discuss a selection of her self-portraits, followed by a Q&A session: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/finding-a-voice-with-n...
Finalist. Arts Organisation of the Year
We have been listed as finalists in the LCR Culture and Creativity Awards as 'Arts organisation of the Year'!
We are thrilled to have our 40th anniversary year of work celebrated in this way.
Read more about it here:
liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/news/finalis...
Natalie and Lilian stand back to back. Rushton Residency Instagram takeover with Natalie Denny and Lilian Munuo
This #internationaldayofdisabledpeople we are doing things a little differently!
We are introducing the Rushton Residency programme with two of our artists taking over our instagram stories.
Head to instagram or visit www.dadafest.co.uk/what-we-do/r... to find out more.
@cripticarts.bsky.social @artscouncilengland.bsky.social @disabilityarts.bsky.social @disabilitydaily.bsky.social @johnpring.bsky.social @disrightsuk.bsky.social @dadafest.bsky.social @signature.org.uk @jenjlibrarian.bsky.social @signalisecoop.bsky.social @paulbelmonte.bsky.social @bda.org.uk
Winter #DDFI Extra. Rushton Residency Writers workshops with Natalie Denny.
Guided writing exercises that explore the intersection of disability and social change.
A collaborative space to experiment with storytelling, poetry, and reflection.
Supported by British Council, Liverpool City Council and Arts Council England
Announcing Rushton Residency Writers Workshops 📢
📝Join author Natalie Denny for engaging creative writing workshops using exercises exploring the intersection of disability & social change.
More info & booking here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
#festivalconnectfund #DDFIExtra
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 30th OCTOBER FOR OPERATIONS AND FINANCE MANAGER APPLICATIONS!
Please note the deadline for applications has been extended to 30th October with interviews to be held the week commencing 10th November.
Find more information at: www.dadafest.co.uk/.../jobs/ope...
Four people stand in front of a screen with a DaDaFest International 40 Rage a quiet riot logo on a black scribble. The four people are posing in a group, wearing lanyards and smiling.
An image of Isaac and Ed standing together smiling. In the background are trees in Sefton Park Palm House. Beneath is written 'Join our team: Operations and Finance Manager'
Rachel and Zoe from DaDa standing at a mic and cheering. Zoe has her fist in the air.
Do you want to be part of an innovative and cutting edge disability and Deaf arts organisation?
We are looking for:
- CEO/Artistic Director
- Operations and Finance Manager
The deadline for applications is 4th Sept 12pm. Follow this link for info:
www.dadafest.co.uk/get-involved...
5 members of DaDa staff stand in front of a screen with DDFI40 Rage a Quiet Riot branding. They are wearing lanyards and smiling. Below the note reads "Join our team: Operations and Finance Manager" dadafest.co.uk
We are seeking an Operations and Finance Manager!
We’re looking for an experienced and effective Operations and Finance Manager to join the Senior Management Team at DaDa.
Sound like you or someone you know?
Find more information at: www.dadafest.co.uk/get-involved...
Closes 4th Sept 12pm
Denise and Ed from our team with BSL interpreter Paul Belmonte in between them. They stand in a room with a pink DaDa banner behind them
Denise stands with Holly Gifford in front of a board advertising several shows
Ed and Denise with cans of Iron Bru
Lyndsey McLean, Access & Engagement Manager for Edinburgh Fringe Festival, pictured here with two BSL interpreters
It has been a jam packed first week at Edinburgh Fringe for our team.
Head over to our blog for our round up along with some recommendations of shows featuring disabled artists we recommend you check out:
www.dadafest.co.uk/article/week...
Rachel Rogers stands in front of three long tapestries made from different coloured fabrics. There is writing on the fabric that isn't clearly visible. They are hanging from a white wall in a gallery space.
A tapesty in oranges and reds. Wording says: "How I rage against the age. How I rage, I rage, Rage. What the hell am I supposed to do?"
WHO WANTS FLOWERS WHEN THEY ARE DEAD? is a new exhibition by Broken Grey Wires, exploring grief, loss, identity and community featuring work by Lizz Brady @WilliamsonArt_
The exhibition runs until 13th Sept and is FREE.
Find out more here: williamsonartgallery.org/event/broken...
Link here the latest podcast I’ve recorded for @dadafest.bsky.social. It features an art exhibition called Deep End, by the neurodivergent Australian artist, Amy Claire Mills. The exhibition is on at The Bluecoat in Liverpool and it’s well worth a visit.
dadafest.podbean.com/e/power-not-...
5 members of DaDa staff stand in front of a screen with DDFI40 Rage a Quiet Riot branding. They are wearing lanyards and smiling. Below the note reads "Join our team: Operations and Finance Manager" dadafest.co.uk
We are seeking an Operations and Finance Manager!
We’re looking for an experienced and effective Operations and Finance Manager to join the Senior Management Team at DaDa.
Sound like you or someone you know?
Find more information at: www.dadafest.co.uk/get-involved...
Closes 4th Sept 12pm
A girl with curly shoulder length hair partially tied up is holding a microphone sitting next to one girl playing the guitar and another with long hair and glasses sat at a mic. Behind is another teenager obscured. They are in stage lighting.
Image description A teenage girl with long dark hair is sat at a music stand playing the guitar. Just visible over her should is a boy playing the guitar and another at a drumkit
A young man with wavy dark hair just above the shoulder is holding a stick and conducting.
A group of disabled musicians are gathered in a group in a music performance space. Instruments are behind them including a grand piano. There is a large screen with logos on. Some are seated and some are standing. Some have hands raised in excitement and they are smiling.
We are excited to share with you some of the images captured at our 'DaDa Makes Music' live performance.🎤
You can listen to the interviews or download the transcripts over on our blog:
www.dadafest.co.uk/article/dada...
📸Brian Roberts
Dolly Sen and DaDa CEO Zoe stand in a street next to a car with its boot open. They are raising a fist and smiling
A final moment of Raging together with Dolly Sen as we make sure the final DDFI40 artwork finds its way home.
Such a pleasure to work with Dolly during our festival.
Still so much to ‘rage’ about, so we won’t be quiet. We are already planning our next riot. Stay tuned!
A man is standing at the back of a room banging on a drum. A young person has their back to camera at the front using drum sticks to tap on electronic pads.
We are really looking forward to Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company and DaDa Ensemble performance live at the Philharmonic tonight at 6.30pm.
You can still book your last minute tickets to join us via this link:
www.liverpoolphil.com/whats-on/all...
A Neon sign with blue writing reading 'Rights not charity' sits at the top of the image as though it is hanging by a chain to the wall. A swirled pastel background has a raised fist in the bottom right and the DaDa logo bottom left. The text in the centre read "The concession from the government’s welfare bill regarding changes to PIP is a small shift for disabled people. But we are painfully aware that disabled people can never drop their guard. Disabled people will continue to campaign for equality and human rights. Nothing about us without us."
“The concession from the Government’s welfare bill regarding changes to PIP is a small shift for disabled people.
But we are painfully aware that disabled people can never drop their guard. Disabled people will continue to campaign for equality and human rights.
Nothing about us without us.”✊
Contact us via info@dadafest.co.uk with 'Edinburgh' in the subject line to share information with us, or find out more about how to connect with our team at Edinburgh Fringe. 🎨
We will be holding some drop in events at the Edinburgh Fringe Hub so you can connect with our team while we are there on Wednesday 13 August 12pm & Wednesday 20 August 2pm. BSL will be available at the drops in.
An image of three people smiling brightly, it's mostly an image of their smiling faces, the person in the middle of the image has a bold blue t-shirt on featuring a graphic image, which appears to be an advertisement for a show. They are all at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. They are stood in front of a green wall which has blurry posters adorned all over it. The person in the middle and the right of the image have a blue lanyard on.
DaDa 🤝 Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Our team is excited to be coming along to Edinburgh Fringe again this year and we want to hear from you! 👋
Tell us about:
- Shows featuring brilliant disabled artists we should see
- Events integrating access that we should experience
- Opportunities to network
Four people wear orange festival T-shirts. They are seated in camping chairs with porta cabins behind them in a field. There are blue signs with a wheelchair symbol on behind them.
DaDa CEO Zoe Partington stands wearing a straw hat and denim jacket. She has a VR headset on and a night time festival crowd can be seen behind her.
DaDa CEO Zoe Partington wears a straw hat facing away from the camera towards a festival stage which is in the distance with a large blurred screen. It is night time. There is smoke and bright lights in front of the stage hovering over a large festival crowd.
Two men and a woman wear orange festival T-shirts. Another woman is dressed in leggings and a grey T-shirt. They are seated in camping chairs with porta cabins behind them
Team DaDa have arrived at @glastofestfeed.bsky.social , ready to get started as sighted guides
So far the team have tested out brilliant magnification headsets from @givevision
We’re looking forward to exploring more of the access initiatives here & enjoying great music.
#Glastonbury2025
#ICYMI Please read our statement regarding Access to Work.
A group of young disabled musicians are seated behind music stands and microphones. some of them have drums next to them. One sits in front of a full drum kit and a few have electric or acoustic guitars. They are all clapping and smiling.
'DaDa Makes Music', and we'd love you to join us for the experience!
@liverpoolphil Youth Company & DaDa Ensemble are excited to present brand new work thanks to @YouthMusic Funded ‘DaDa Makes Music’ on 8th July.
Please book via this link:
www.liverpoolphil.com/whats-on/all...
A bright blue wall carries inflated letters reading 'Deep End'. Beneath is a yellow inflatable Lilo on the floor next to green inflatable dumbbells.
Amy Claire Mills is a brilliant Neurodivergent and Disabled artist whose work delves into themes of advocacy, identity, and resistance.
Amy is presenting ‘Deep End’ at Liverpool Biennial as part of a Co-commission with DaDa.
More here:
www.biennial.com/artists/amy-...
📷 Mark McNulty.
Disabled people will start to fade from the sector unless something changes
✊Statement from DaDa Regarding Access to Work
We stand with those within our community who are concerned about the impact of these changes on their work and practice.
Read our full statement over on our blog:
www.dadafest.co.uk/article/stat...
