The theme of the festival is civilization.
TIME: Thursday, December 5, 2024, from 3 PM to 7 PM
PLACE: The Art House Turku, main hall, Nunnankatu 4, Turku
In honor of the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3), the DiDa – Disability Day Art & Action festival invites everyone to celebrate!
The festival’s captivating Vapaa Sana promises spoken word poetry straight from the heart. Last year’s Poetry Slam finalist artist aims to create a space through performance poetry where everyone feels seen. The poems also depict the sense of alienation that a person with a disability may sometimes experience. The performance is accompanied by Heli Raami on piano and guitar.
Additionally, the stage will feature wheelchair dance and movement improvisation by the Turku-based TaiKaTanssi group. During the performance, the dancers’ movement languages interact, forming various layers, ultimately finding a space of shared soft moments.
On the big screen, DiDa presents the Generation Z dance film trilogy (2023). This is a joint effort by Riina Hannuksela, Elisa Lejeune, and dancer-filmmaker Kati Kallio, who lead the Dance Group Ihanat. The focus is on involving three young dancers in the creative process of the films, from scripting to performance. The trilogy diversifies our understanding of a generation of dancers by highlighting those who are rarely seen in the spotlight. In the films, they become visible as they wish to be seen. DiDa also features Kimmo Salminen‘s work Mielimaisemiani, which combines Finnish nature photography and music into a compelling multimedia piece.
In the music section, Aki Lappalainen, Oiva Ristimäki, and Katriina Rainio, known as the trio Elysium, will perform. They interpret works by significant Finnish poets who suffered from tuberculosis and schizophrenia, set to the tunes of bossa nova.
The festival’s traditional panel discussion is based on the recently published Making space for Artistry project publication Onko maailma valmis? – Kirjoituksia taiteesta ja vammaisuudesta. The program culminates in the awarding of the prestigious Vimma Disability Cultural Award.
Read more about the artists here!
The event will be hosted by writer Hannele Cantell, who received The Lifelong Learning Foundation’s Sivistys Award 2024.
Welcome! Free entry!
ACCESSIBILITY
The main hall is located in the Factory, whose main door (A3) is accessible. The main hall (2nd floor) can be reached by an accessible elevator, but the elevator door is heavy. An accessible toilet is located on the first floor. The routes are uneven cobblestones. The gate between the courtyard of the Art House and the Brinkkala courtyard has an unobstructed access. For more information about the place here.
Sign language interpretation into Finnish sign language will be available at the event.
The festival is organised by The Threshold Association, Tukilinja foundation, Culture for All Service and Cultural Association Finland’s EUCREA.
MORE INFORMATION
For further information, please contact Taru Perälä and Satu Kankaanpää: info.disabilityday@gmail.com
tel. +358407342345 (Taru)
Programme changes are possible.