European Arts & Disability Cluster

The European Arts & Disability Cluster (ADICLUS) is a European network of artists, cultural workers, arts organisations and cultural institutions. ADICLUS members all develop professional opportunities for artists and cultural workers with disabilities or who are Deaf. 

ADICLUS is a network, and we are also a community. Members are often isolated in their local arts sectors. We gather together in solidarity, in mutual support, and in celebration of our achievements.

The aim of ADICLUS is to improve and increase professional opportunities for artists and cultural workers with disabilities and those who are Deaf.

Across borders we share knowledge, we identify best practices, and we exchange solutions to common difficulties experienced by artists and cultural workers with disabilities in the European cultural sector.

We advocate for change and we demand greater equity in the European cultural sector. We encourage arts organisations and cultural networks to place the artistic practices of artists and cultural workers with disabilities at the heart of change.

We aim to influence cultural policymakers. We share our experience and expertise with policymakers to help them understand the barriers experienced by artists and cultural workers with disabilities.

We call for Municipal, Regional, National and Transnational cultural policymakers to develop policies and funding programmes that specifically address the imbalances of the European cultural sector. We advocate for specific policies to increase participation by disabled people as audiences, as artists, and as cultural workers.

We support emerging Arts and Disability networks and movements across Europe. Where local allies are missing, we offer a transnational community of practice, of experience, and allyship. Currently, the majority of our members are artists, cultural workers and organisations in the performing arts sector. However, we welcome members working in different art forms. 

ADICLUS members believe that some of the most interesting and innovative artistic works currently being produced in Europe are being made by artists with disabilities.

ADICLUS members believe that the European cultural ecosystem is fundamentally ableist. The cultural sector includes many significant and structural barriers to equal participation including physical, educational, logistical, knowledge, and financial barriers. Our members work to remove and challenge these barriers.

ADICLUS members work within national contexts which are very disparate. Just as the general experience of people with disabilities is hugely varied across Europe, the specific experience of artists and cultural workers with disabilities is equally varied. We support our members as they seek to improve local conditions. At the same time we highlight examples of best practice from which we think everyone can learn.

ADICLUS members are all involved, in some way, with efforts at a local, national, or transnational level, to improve professional opportunities for artists and cultural workers with disabilities or those who are Deaf. In our different ways, we all advocate for change in the cultural sector.

ADICLUS specifically supports and encourages opportunities for artists and cultural workers at a professional level. We define “professional” as those who are not in full-time education at undergraduate level or below, and who self-identify as artists or cultural workers. Usually, professional work means that payment is exchanged: payment by an audience, and/or payment by a promoter or presenter, and/or payment of the artist or cultural worker themselves.

ADICLUS members are all seeking to position the work of professional artists and cultural workers with disabilities within the professional cultural sector. Although we acknowledge that in some national contexts artists with disabilities have few opportunities to experience culture outside of participatory or amateur contexts (as participants), the aim of the Cluster members is to support a clear trajectory for artists with disabilities within the professional cultural sector.

ADICLUS members believe that artists and cultural workers with disabilities should be paid for their work on an equitable basis with all other cultural workers. We know that very often national welfare and access support payments and services can be endangered when a person with disabilities receives payment for professional services. This is a major risk for arts workers who are often employed with short freelance contracts.

ADICLUS members agree to pay artists with disabilities a fair and equitable wage wherever possible.

ADICLUS members believe that artists and cultural workers with disabilities have an equal right to cultural education as those without disabilities. We observe that lack of access to cultural education is an additional and critical barrier to full and equal access to the arts.

ADICLUS is currently resourced through the Europe Beyond Access large-scale Creative Europe Cooperation Project.

ADICLUS aims to become an independent European cultural association by 2027. In order to achieve this, ADICLUS will explore a new governance model. A transitional governance model may be adopted during the transition period.

Members of the Cluster can be individuals, groups, networks, associations, non-profit companies or institutions. Members that are not individuals can send more than one representative to meetings of the Cluster, but, when voting, each member only has one vote. We encourage members to send one regular representative. Our network thrives when mutual trust and understanding can be developed.

ADICLUS is a network of some disability-led organisations, and cultural workers with disabilities, and also of some non disability-led organisations and people without disabilities. ADICLUS member organisations can be represented by more than one staff member. Some ADICLUS members choose to pay an associate artist with disabilities or advisor with disabilities to attend along with the representative staff member.

Prospective members can apply directly, and in this case ADICLUS will ask its existing members for two nominations of the prospective member. Two nominations from existing members are required to validate the membership application. Prospective new members can also be actively encouraged to become members by invitation. An existing member can nominate a prospective member. If a second nomination is received from an existing member, then the Coordinator will invite the prospective member to join. If no second nomination is secured, the Coordinator will not make the invitation.

Here is the form online!

Austria
Tanja Erhart

Belgium
European Disability Forum

Bulgaria
Art Office Foundation

Cyprus
Ipogia Skini

Finland
Jenni-Juulia Wallinheimo-Heimonen

France
Onda (L’Office national de diffusion artistique)
Théâtre National de Bretagne

Georgia
InForm – Platform for Inclusive Minds

Germany
EUCREA e.V.
Kampnagel – Internationales Zentrum für schönere Künste
Kate Brehme
Making a Difference
Un-Label

Greece
Betina Panagiotara
Demy Papathanassiou
liminal
Maria Koliopoulou
Medie Megas
Onassis Stegi

Hungary
Baltazar Theatre Foundation

Iceland
List án landamæra / Art without Borders

Ireland
Blue Teapot Theatre Company
Project Arts Centre

Italy
Oriente Occidente Impresa Sociale Ets
Jonathan Meth

Netherlands
Holland Dance Festival
PodiumINC
Theater Babel Rotterdam

Norway
Aidan Moesby

Poland
Filip Pawlak
ZAMEK Culture Centre

Portugal
Acesso Cultura | Access Culture
Culturgest – Fundação Caixa Geral de Depósitos
Terra Amarela

Romania
Asociatia Solidart – Basca Theater

Serbia
Saša Asentić

Spain
21distritos Psico Ballet Maite León Foundation
Mercat de les Flors

Sweden
Laith Fathulla
Moomsteatern Riksteatern Crea
ShareMusic & Performing Arts
Skånes Dansteater

Social Model of Disability

Our approach is based on the Social Model of Disability. This recognises that people with disabilities and Deaf people are disadvantaged by attitudinal, environmental and systemic barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference.  We are working to identify and dismantle these barriers in our sector. 

Definition

Our definition of persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments (such as deafness or visual impairment), chronic illness or Neurodiversity, which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

Deaf Identity / Deaf Culture

We acknowledge that many Deaf people reject inclusion within a description of disability – preferring to reference themselves as part of a marginalised language group and a minority culture. 

However, our membership, including Deaf members, acknowledge the value of a network committed to reducing barriers in the cultural sector. We also acknowledge that often Deaf awareness and reduction of barriers for Deaf people often goes hand-in-hand with disability awareness and reduction of other barriers.