The Warehouse Residency Artists Announced
Arts House’s new five-year Deaf and Disability-led residency and commissioning program
We are thrilled to announce the inaugural residents for Arts House’s new five-year Deaf and Disability-led residency and commissioning program – Catherine Dunn and Sam Martin, Leisa Prowd and Mishka.
The Warehouse Residency was co-devised by Arts House and six Deaf, Disabled and neurodiverse artists, with support from Arts Access Victoria, to ensure the program embraces self-determination, flexibility and risk taking, and enhances inclusion and participation.
“By embracing equity in participation and furthering inclusivity, we’re giving a diverse range of artists the opportunity to thrive. We can’t wait to experience and celebrate their important work” says Lord Mayor Sally Capp.
From March – May 2022 Catherine Dunn and Sam Martin will work with a group of Deaf artists to create a culturally safe space to explore story-telling beyond hearing-centric environments and spoken languages. Arts House will present More Than Words Can Say in August.
Leisa Prowd is less than 4ft tall in a 6ft world. From July 2022, she will delve into the themes of perception, voyeurism and consent by exploring her relationship with her own body in a world not designed for it. The residency will culminate in a two-week season of I Am Not This Body – No Consent at Arts House in October.
Mishka’s residency aims to demystify autistic art practices. From March to May 2023, sixteen autistic and non-autistic artists will examine stim vocabularies to develop a sensory and tactile performance with large-scale brain puppets, as well as a film installation with projection mapping.
For the next five years, Arts House will fund artist fees, access and production costs to support two residencies and presentations each year. “The Warehouse Residency at Arts House will challenge what it means to create and produce accessible art – it will break down the barriers for artists and audiences” says Arts House Creative Advisory Group member, Kath Duncan.
The Warehouse Residency program supports the City of Melbourne’s vision to make Melbourne the world’s most accessible and inclusive city where all people can participate with dignity and independence.
“Art is open to interpretation, but most importantly it is about participation and that is exactly what Warehouse Residency program offers” says Creative Melbourne portfolio lead Councillor, Jamal Hakim.
The next expression of interest for The Warehouse Residency at Arts House will open in August/September 2022. Sign up here to be first to know.
You can learn more about this amazing group of artists here.
Image Credit: Leisa Prowd in Glass by Rawcus, 2021, Photo by Aaron Walker
Image Description: A woman of short stature with light coloured hair in a bob stands in the middle of a group of people laying on the floor. Her face is lit brightly with her face looking up and her body is stretched forward.
