Abilities Arts Festival A Celebration of Disability Arts and Culture  
Fluttering Spiral & Waving Jade
Abilities Arts Festival is a disability arts organization that promotes diversity, inclusiveness and the power of art as a means of enriching the cultural fabric of our communities. Through multidisciplinary, visual, film and performing arts festivals, workshops and special events, Abilities Arts Festival showcases artistic excellence by artists with disabilities. The festival uses dynamic and powerful artistic presentations by artists with disabilities to positively impact attitudes and to help ensure an arts and culture sector that is both inclusive of people with disabilities and one that is enhanced through their participation.

2008 News and Opportunities

Abilities Arts Festival 2008 – CALL TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH   March 17, 2008
Abilities Arts Festival is seeking Artwork and Poetry made by school age children and youth with disabilities from across Ontario. School age children and youth are invited to submit either a drawing or poem for display at "In Celebration of Our Children", the 2008 Abilities Arts Festival children's program which will be held in Toronto, October 21 - 23, 2008. <Read More>



DAVID MITCHELL AND SHARON SNYDER Lecture at the ROM  April 25, 2008
David Mitchell and Sharon Snyder, whose films (Disability Takes On the Arts, Self Preservation: The Art of Riva Lehrer, A World Without Bodies), and post screening insightful comments were a hit at Abilities Arts Festival 2007; are returning to Toronto as part of 3 public events to celebrate disability studies at the ROM. On Friday, May 2, between 6:00-8:00pm, David and Sharon will present a lecture "Bridging Disability out From Under". Following the lecture visitors are welcome to tour Out From Under at the ROM.

"Out From Under, Disability History and Things to Remember", which is currently on exhibit at the Rom, premiered at Abilities Arts Festival 2007. For further details on the lecture series and the ROM exhibit, please see our <May, 2008 Calendar of Events>



JOE COUGHLIN Wins Male Vocalist of the Year at 2008 National Jazz Awards   April 09, 2008
Congratulations to Joe Coughlin, who was honoured with the Best Male Jazz Vocalist Award at the 2008 National Jazz Awards. The Awards recognize contributions to jazz excellence in Canada. Nominees are selected by a committee of industry leaders to honour outstanding Canadian achievements. Winners are chosen by the public via a national online voting system and were announced at an exclusive gala that took place at Toronto's Palais Royale on April 8, 2008.

Project Ability "MY LIFE IN PICTURES" – CALL FOR ENTRIES   April 04, 2008
Project Ability (Scotland) invites you to take part in "My Life in Pictures", A photographic exhibition about people with learning disabilities by people with learning disabilities. "My Life in Pictures" is a celebration of good times. It is an exhibition of photographs which captures and celebrates the achievements of people with learning disabilities. Photographic Entries due by April 30, 2008 <Read More>

Moscow International Disability Film Festival: Breaking Down Barriers 2008 – CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS   February 20, 2008
Perspektiva, a Russian Disability Organization, is now accepting submissions for the Fourth International Disability Film Festival "Breaking Down Barriers" to take place in Moscow, November 14-17, 2008, and later in a minimum of 20 regions of Russia and 7 NIS countries: Armenia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Byelorussia. Submissions must be postmarked by June 1, 2008. <Read More>


Featured Artist:

Matt Savage
(Glenn Gould Theatre, October 26, 2007)

At 15 years of age, jazz musician Matt Savage has already won numerous awards. He is also the youngest pianist and only child in Bösendorfer's 178-year history to be signed as an artist. Joining Matt was joined by John Funkhouser on bass and Steve Silverstein on drums in an outstanding performance of jazz originals and mainstay hits.

Out From Under, Disability History and Things to Remember. Exhibiting at the Royal Ontario Museum from April 19 through July 11, 2008