What to Expect

ABILITIES FESTIVAL 2005 builds on the success of two preliminary programs:

CONNECTIONS, An International Exhibition by Artists with Disabilities held in 2003; and PROJECTIONS, The International Disability Film Festival, completed in 2004. Volunteers, sponsors, artists and audiences alike are excited by the prospect of the full festival this year.

Artists as extraordinary as the famed Bill "Crutchmaster" Shannon, Corpuscule Danse (an integrated wheelchair dance company from Quebec), US theatre pioneer, David Roche and Toronto's own award-winning violinist - Adrian Anatawan are part of the line-up of professionals who have been invited to participate.

Many of the professional artists, scheduled to perform at the Glenn Gould Studio, will give of their time to participate in workshops, and/or the symposiums to be held at the Columbus Centre. These are being designed to provide emerging artists with practical tips for getting works produced or seen, or will offer advice on how to secure the education and opportunities necessary to succeed artistically.

Included as well, is a month long international art exhibition to be held once again at the Joseph D. Carrier Gallery, of the Columbus Centre.

Children with disabilities will be made welcome. Besides music, movement and story telling sessions, Abilities Festival is planning a province-wide art/poetry exhibition open to all children with disabilities. Some of this work will be used in the special event calendar that will be sold during the festival.

ABILITIES FESTIVAL will add to the significance of the celebration by organizing a vote on its web site to honour the person who is recognized as having done the most to advance disability art and culture in Canada.