Matkalla – On the go! Mentoring artists and educating gatekeepers to pave career pathways of disabled artists

Matkalla - On the go! Mentoring artists and educating gatekeepers to pave career pathways of disabled artists is a kickstart project funded by Kone Foundation. The aim is to prepare models to promote the inclusion of disabled and Deaf artists in the art field. Potential tools are artists’ mentoring or peer support and learning among colleagues, as well as educating gatekeepers on disabled people’s issues and diversity, and creating a network around the topic.

What we intend to do

Map out mentoring models in the arts - also internationally - and reflect what could work in support of artists with disabilities

Create models of mentoring, peer support, and learning among colleagues and start making them available to people with disabilities to pave the career pathway of art students and artists

Educate art institutions and gatekeepers on disabled people’s issues and diversity

Create a network around the topic

Organize a seminar on the topic and encourage public discussion

New models are being sought in this project. To continue the work the aim is to embed the models into art education and art structures with a new project funding.

The project length is March 2020 – February 2021.

Background

In Finland, possibilities for disabled people and people using sign language to work professionally in the arts and cultural field are limited, often nearly impossible. An art-oriented person with a disability or coming from the deaf community often finds themselves in the role of a lonesome pioneer in their studies and work, while they should have the opportunity to grow and develop as an artist.    

When education and employment are not accessible, disabled and Deaf artists are also shut out from creating networks in the field. Other signs of professionalism that have been difficult for artists with disabilities to access include professional education, membership of artists' communities and organizations, equal pay for artistic work, teaching positions and decision-making positions as curators, peer reviewers etc. The need for support can as well be related to very practical accessibility issues. For example, it can be impossible to fill out a grant application form using technical aids, or many work spaces may be physically inaccessible.    

There is a clear need for mentoring, peer support and shared learning. Mentoring allows artists to gain new perspectives, positive experiences and self-confidence in their learning and work. Mentoring can help artists understand their own placement in the art field: where to find networks and how to get involved. The aim of Matkalla – On the go! -project, which prepares models for mentoring and other support, is to create opportunities for artists who are disabled in various ways and therefore struggling in the margin, and to make space for their agency, when needed.    

Another part of the project is educating art institutions and gatekeepers. We know through studies and discussions that the art field needs ways to recognize disabled people’s issues and to build different approaches that take into account the diversity of abilities.    

The project has arisen from the need to provide more in-depth information and education towards a more open definition of cultural agency and awareness of diversity. We desire to accelerate equality in art education and other public services in the cultural field, so that these services are accessible and work for everyone in a respectful way. In educating art institutions and gatekeepers, the aim is to provide more information on diversity, equity and critique on normativity.

Project coordinator Maija Karhunen tells about the project On the go! and about the challenges disabled artists face. The video was Maija's speech at #StopHatredNow seminar 11th May 2020.

The network

cultural actors in the disability sector

cultural actors in the sign language community

disabled artists - already working as artists, as well as emerging artists

art educators

experts in mentorship and peer support

actors who promote equality and equity in the art field

art institutions and gatekeepers such as producers, funders, student selectors, peer reviewers, curators, critics, art administrators

social service providers of disabled people’s support and services

Advisory board

Liisa Jaakonaho, University of Arts
Noora Karjalainen, theatre artist
Minna Kettunen-Enberg, actor
Kati Kivinen, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma
Anne Korhonen, Vates Foundation
Rosa Kuosmanen, The Artists’ Association of Finland
Ulla Lassila, Arts Promotion Center Finland
Päivi Lilja, Kettuki
Johanna Mattila, EUCREA Finland
Sanni Purhonen, poet and critic
Kati Raatikainen, choreographer
Katriina Rosavaara, Equal Artists
Elina Tapio, Humak University of Applied Sciences

Contact information

Senior Specialist
Sari Salovaara
Sari.salovaara@cultureforall.fi
040 931 3958

Partnership with EUCREA

The Finnish Cultural Association EUCREA is the only actor in Finland combining the cultural and disability sectors. EUCREA has connections with artists across disabilities. Its role in the project is to coordinate the networking of artists, and thus to look for potential mentees and mentors. EUCREA implements the principle of all activities being led by people with disabilities themselves.

EUCREA promotes the activity of people with disabilities in cultural life, makes cultural services accessible to people with disabilities and makes disabled people's own culture known to influencers in cultural life and the public. The association raises awareness of the difficulties and assets that people with disabilities have as makers and consumers of art.

Welcome to our seminar on 26th August 2020 in Kiasma