Goal
Our aim is to make the arts more accessible to adults with intellectual disabilities by creating appropriate arts programs; providing artists with training and work; and connecting adults who live with an intellectual disability, caregivers and agencies with the artists and the art programs.
Arts Inclusion’s mission is to provide increased opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities to access the arts in terms of practice and appreciation. We believe that participation in the arts improves quality of life both as a leisure activity and in the pursuit and development of artistic skills. Adults with disabilities do not have to be professional artists in order to entertain or create visual art for their community. Conversely many artists with intellectual disabilities have added to the cultural vibrance of the professional arts. The aim of Arts Inclusion is to build capacity and awareness in the arts by making connections between the service sector, the arts and entertainment sector, and adults with intellectual disabilities in their communities.
Mission
In 2019 - 2023, Arts Inclusion presented an annual two-day arts festival to showcase the great work created by our clientele and also offered a day of arts workshops in preferred specialties. During Covid we offered a version of the festival online.
Annual Arts Inclusion Festival
During the year, seasonal sessions are offered to participants with weekly classes. Typically, there are 4 seasonal sessions, 10 weeks each, of regular programming annually = 40 weeks. Each session has four different classes running. Each class can hold 10-15 participants. On average there have been 8 unique individuals in each class.
Seasonal Classes
- Sue Proctor, Artistic Director, Arts Inclusion
From the Artistic Director
In 2014 I began to work with Inclusion Winnipeg to help to establish programs in the arts for their community.
Through Arts Inclusion, we hope to encourage a vision of arts participation that can include people of all abilities. Focused programs in the arts for adults with a lived-experience of intellectual disabilities gives participants a beginning place, a chance to see if they do have talents, if they do want to follow a career path in the arts or perhaps participate in mainstream arts programs at theatres or art galleries. Arts Inclusion classes also give participants a space to: develop their creativity; make connections with other people; increase their communication tools; and improve their quality of life.
Recently, a dear, long-time student of the Arts Inclusion programs died suddenly. At her funeral, the family talked of how important the arts programs were in her life and asked that donations (in lieu of flowers) be sent to the Arts Inclusion Network. Thank you Samantha!
The Crescent Arts Centre (CAC) assumed responsibility for Inclusion Arts in November 2021 and changed its name to Arts Inclusion Network in November 2023. For the prior 15 years, Inclusion Winnipeg (formerly known as Community Living Winnipeg) was in partnership with semi-professional arts instructors offering arts programming to adults of ALL abilities ~ musical theatre, improv, drama, dance, art and yoga.