The National Disability Arts Collection And Archive (NDACA) has received a significant boost after it was announced it will receive a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £853,600.
With additional support from Arts Council England and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Shape Arts will create the digital archive, which will document the history of the Disability Arts Movement since its inception in the 1970s.
The archive will preserve and catalogue over 1000 pieces of artwork, print and film created by disabled people and their allies to express and reflect their experiences of a disabling world.
David Hevey, the NDACA project director, explains: “It will tell the unique story of the Disability Arts Movement, when disabled people and their allies broke barriers, helped change the law and made great art about that struggle – and now, we are getting that unique heritage story out to millions, going live in 2017/2018.”
An interactive website and catalogue will also be created along with a learning programme and pop-up exhibitions to help people explore the unique history of the movement and its demands for greater equality.
Tony Heaton OBE, Shape CEO and the NDACA project founder, adds: “This is the realisation of a dream I first had almost 20 years ago. We are going to preserve and promote that powerful and unique movement – the Disability Arts Movement – for all audiences and for generations to come.”
