Variations on a Theme

Funding disability aesthetics

Monday, October 14, 3:40pm – 5:00pm

Organized by Esther Grimm, executive director, 3Arts; and Lane Harwell, program officer, Ford Foundation.

Presented by Carrie Sandahl, associate professor, Bodies of Work and University of Illinois at Chicago; Reveca Torres, executive director, Backbones; and Regan Linton, artistic director, Phamaly Theatre Company.

Embedded in the longstanding practices of philanthropy are age-old assumptions about artistic excellence, technical acumen, and quality that do not always consider variance and the variations of bodies, voices, and perspectives that counter traditional ideals. These variations can breathe new life into old themes and question the structures of art forms. After an interactive opener, three artists who are shaking it up in their disciplines will discuss the groundbreaking power of disability aesthetics, and how funders can be good partners in the work.