'We still live in an age where we cannot drop our guard''

Liverpool's DaDa has been fighting for equality for decades now and shows no sign of slowing down

'We still live in an age where we cannot drop our guard'

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A Liverpool-based organisation has been pioneering disabled and deaf artists for 40 years now. Celebrating its milestone anniversary, DaDa, the award-winning multi-artform charity, was founded in 1984 and has since become an integral part of the campaign for greater equality and access for artists across the sector.

The organisation has been known to develop and present an annual programme that includes festivals and events, which feed into its year-round engagement work with developing and established artists. However, the centrepiece of DaDa’s work is DaDaFest International.

The festival launched in 2001 as a platform to showcase the work of disabled, deaf and neurodivergent artists and is set to return in March 2025 with the theme for the special anniversary festival revealed as ‘RAGE’.

DaDa's interim chief executive Zoe Partington told the ECHO: “This is a very important year for DaDa as we mark our 40th anniversary – 40 years of artistic excellence, activism, advocacy, creativity, collaboration, conversation and celebration.

“Our vision is equity and excellence in the cultural landscape to break down the barriers that exist for disabled art communities. I’m very proud of the high level of artwork which has been created and presented over those four decades under the DaDa umbrella as well as in partnership with organisations and venues within Liverpool and beyond. It’s not been easy, and disabled leaders have had to fight for equity at DaDa.”

DaDa, the brainchild of artistic director John McGrath and activist and performer Mandy Colleran, was initially formed as Arts Integrated Merseyside (AIM), then a branch of London-based Shape Arts.

In 1986, it became the independent North West Disability Arts Forum (NWDAF), focusing on Liverpool, Manchester, and the surrounding area. It worked as a cross-artform organisation led by disabled artists who advocated for more rights. It wasn’t until 2008 that it was renamed to the organisation loved by so many in Merseyside today.

Zoe said: “I’m delighted we can reveal the theme of next year’s DaDaFest International is RAGE. After consulting with artists, the feedback we received clearly shows that though some progress has been made, too many decisions are still taken without involving disabled people.

“This has left disabled artists and disabled communities raging that the gaps in society are still so wide, and we are still so far from equity and representation at all levels in art, culture and heritage. Often neglected, ignored and discriminated against at the highest levels in the arts sector, community and government at a cultural level.”

Over DaDa’s 40 years it has made an important impact through advocacy and social change and through partnership and collaboration with a range of organisations and bodies.

That includes supporting Liverpool City Council on policy making around access to services and transport; being consulted during the redevelopment of the Liverpool Everyman to make it one of the most accessible theatres in the country and working with the Unity for more than 20 years to change perceptions of disabled artists.

Zoe added: “We want our festival to continue to provide an equal, radical, and open space for artists to flourish, share work, and debate solutions to the issues we face together.

“Through artistic excellence, expression and engagement, we want to offer valuable networking opportunities for disabled artists across the sector in Liverpool and beyond and, importantly, to provide a high-profile UK platform exclusively to ensure no stone is unturned and we are at the centre of the decision-making powers and production. We still live in an age where we cannot drop our guard and have to campaign for real change .”

Since DaDaFest launched over two decades ago, a total of 13 have been held and have featured more than 500 events. DaDaFest International 40 will run in March 2025, with an official launch event revealing the programme set to take place at the Unity Theatre later this year.

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