Uzbekistan welcomes Unlimited Art Initiative for a day of art and creativity for disabled and non-disabled children and youth. The initiative brings together disabled artists, singers, filmmakers and photographers from across the globe for a series of tailored education and cultural events that will explore how art can help demystify what it means to be disabled within Uzbekistan society.
The day will give young people the opportunity to take part in large scale art projects, attend workshops featuring groundbreaking disabled cinematographers, and hear music from Vernon Barnard, the blind South African singer and storyteller whose message of hope is inspiring people from across the world. There will also be workshops based on the innovative pedagogy created by a blind photographers society from India, together with an exhibition from disabled artists from across the globe.
The goal of Unlimited Art Initiative is to show how every person, regardless of health status, can use creativity to express themselves. Too often a disability is seen as something to hide, to be kept out of sight, and something to be ashamed of. Unlimited Art Initiative wants to understand and reverse this. Art and creativity are ways of promoting self-acceptance, as a way of showing pride in who you are, not in spite of a disability, not because of a disability, but including a disability.
Identifying barriers and finding solutions together with all participants can be an empowering learning experience. The founders of Unlimited Art Initiative have the ambition of bringing this message to the people of Tashkent. They invite you to join them.
Unlimited Art Initiative was created by Maria Shumeiko and James Andrews, two friends who have combined their professions, personal interests and the values they wish to bring to life. Their goal has been to use art as a means to provide safe spaces to explore and aid expression, reflective engagement and understanding of the challenges surrounding accessibility and disability. The upcoming event in Tashkent is from 10:00 - 15:00, 29 May, Ilkhom Theatre, 5 Pakhtakor Street, it is open to all disabled and non-disabled people.
