Disability Arts Online x EMT

Through The Second Life Award (TSLA) scheme, Disability Arts Online (DAO) extended their Associate Artist programme into Scotland for the first time, working with a disabled Scottish poet to support their practice over the period of 12–18 months.

DAO’s Associate Artists’ programme has successfully operated since 2018, so far supporting seven disabled artists to progress their creative practice, and in most cases also influencing positive change in the wider cultural sector. In 2020, they responded to the pandemic with a series of ‘Covid Commissions’ – micro-awards in which artists made and presented work and ideas online during lockdown.

This TSLA supported DAO to work with Scottish poet, Ellen Renton, who explores the role of sight in her own work and the writings of others, touching on themes of imagery, the cultural significance of blindness, and the hierarchy of the senses. The bursary supported research and development for a new work: IF YOU’VE SEEN IT YOU HAVEN’T SEEN IT, an exhibition of poetry and photography which was held at AGITATE, Edinburgh, from the 17–31 May 2023. The exhibition was the culmination of a body of research responding to the rich archive and collection belonging to the late Scottish poet Edwin Morgan, utilising poetry and photography as counterpoint to the ocular-centric world in which we live.

Read our interview with Ellen here!

A digital walkthrough of Ellen’s exhibition.
DAO’s Content Assistant Rachel Boyd speaks to Associate Artist Ellen Renton about her time researching the Edwin Morgan Archive and the series of poetry and photographs she created in response. A transcript of the In Conversation video is available here.

More information about Disability Arts Online:

Disability Arts Online (DAO) is an arts organisation led by disabled people. We occupy a unique global position with our UK-based website, social media network, commissioning and artist development programmes, partnership work, and vibrant community of disabled creatives. The DAO team is a friendly group of expert individuals based in England and Scotland, who work together to take action for social justice, countering the ‘tragedy model’ that society is so deeply invested in. We exist to serve artists and arts audiences and, in doing so, to enable social change. 

Disability Arts Online has a rich history of challenging dominant narratives, championing the development of disability arts and breaking down barriers to arts engagement from a disability-led position. We recognise disability is an intersectional experience. We loudly and proudly nurture an equitable community space for everyone.