Bristol's Disabled Artists Push for Opportunities Beyond Access
Campaigners assert that, despite Bristol's reputation for inclusivity, disabled artists continue to encounter barriers. Cathy Mager, a deaf artist and the founder of Spectroscope in 2022, emphasized that mere access does not guarantee visibility for these artists. Her BSL projections during the pandemic resulted in commissions from Arnolfini and the Bristol Light Festival. Recently, Spectroscope convened at Ham Green House and plans to initiate an artist residency at East Quay in Watchet. Mager commended Watershed for its support of disabled individuals while urging for increased disabled leadership and funding for rural transport. Raquel Meseguer Zafe, a dancer with chronic pain, is advocating for resting areas and is involved in a production of Juliet and Romeo at Bristol Old Vic. Additionally, Jess Douek, the lead singer of Mallavora, obtained Arts Council funding for Bristol's first fully-accessible music venue, set to open in early 2027.
Key facts
- Deaf artist Cathy Mager founded Spectroscope in 2022 to create public installations by deaf and disabled people.
- Mager started projecting British Sign Language onto a neighbor's house during the pandemic, leading to commissions at the Arnolfini and Bristol Light Festival.
- Spectroscope hosted a gathering at Ham Green House in Pill and will launch an artist residency at East Quay in Watchet.
- Raquel Meseguer Zafe, a dancer with chronic pain, has advocated for a resting spaces network since 2018.
- Meseguer Zafe is working on Juliet and Romeo at Bristol Old Vic, which will have a resting space, BSL interpretation, and audio descriptions.
- Jess Douek, lead singer of Mallavora, has fibromyalgia and secured Arts Council funding to create Bristol's first fully-accessible grassroots music venue with the Exchange.
- Douek's band broke the record for the number of wheelchairs at a fully-accessible gig at the Exchange in May.
- The new venue will launch quarterly gigs, networking events, and a talent pathway with festivals and booking agencies in early 2027.
Entities
Artists
- Cathy Mager
- Raquel Meseguer Zafe
- Jess Douek
Institutions
- Spectroscope
- Arnolfini
- Bristol Light Festival
- Watershed
- Bristol Old Vic
- Exchange
- Mallavora
- Arts Council
Locations
- Bristol
- United Kingdom
- Pill
- Watchet
- Easton