In recent years, there has been an increased focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. These measures aim to address the disadvantages and treatment that certain groups have historically faced and currently confront daily and to make the world a place where everyone has the ability and opportunity to do the things they want to do. DEI has been a focus in schools, businesses, nonprofit organizations, governments–and, now, the art world. In this article, we’ll explain how the art world benefits from the inclusion of individuals with disabilities.
How Art-Related Careers for Individuals With Disabilities Helps the Art World
- Increased Diversity - Diversity is something to be celebrated, as the things that make us different can also bring us closer together. With diversity comes new perspectives, as people with disabilities have their own unique experiences that others may not understand or know about. Through art, individuals can express themselves and educate others, helping others to gain new insights into the lives of those who are different from them.
- Collaboration - The inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the arts also presents new opportunities for collaboration between artists, museums, institutions, and more. Working together can build community and create new relationships between people who might not have met otherwise. This can strengthen the art community and help those in it feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves.
- Pushing Boundaries - Individuals with disabilities can push the boundaries of what art can be and how we understand it. As mentioned above, their unique experiences can fuel their creativity and help them create distinctive new works. This can expand what we understand art to be and its role in our lives. It also doesn’t simply create new works of art, but it can create new art forms as a whole. This helps the art world continue to evolve and grow, just like the people that make it up.
Art Enables is an art gallery and vocational arts program dedicated to creating opportunities for artists with disabilities to make, market, and earn income from their original and compelling artwork. In addition to earning income from art sales, artists build the skills, relationships, and experience necessary for a successful career in the arts. We offer our artists the creative space, materials, and marketing support they need to develop and succeed as professionals.
We also seek to promote understanding and celebrate the diverse and powerful ways individuals with disabilities can communicate through visual art and why their work is an invaluable part of the broader arts community. You can make a difference in the lives of these artists by making a donation to fund our work, signing up to volunteer, or even purchasing a piece of original work!