Cornwall museum to host the UK’s first Disability Joy weekender

Board games, protest placards, a Makaton choir and a crate of records. It is an unusual line-up for a museum, and that is rather the point.

Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery will host a weekend of Disability Joy in November, working with the We Are The People project from Bath Spa University. It is the first event of its kind in the UK, and it sets out to explore Disability Joy through play, art, research and disco.

📷Disability Joy takes place on Saturday 14 November, 10am to 7pm. Credit: Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery

Films, games and a vinyl disco on Saturday 14 November

The Saturday event is open to everyone, and the daytime schedule is a busy one. There will be films, board games, art activism workshops, sensory resources from Cornwall Libraries and a performance from a Makaton Choir.

From 4pm to 7pm, things move on to a bring your own vinyl session with Redruth Record Club.

📷Work on show in Art Any Way at Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery. Credit: Adj Brown

Art Any Way

Visitors can also explore the museum’s current exhibition, Art Any Way. It brings together an eclectic range of self-taught and non-traditional artists who offer fresh and exhilarating perspectives on art and culture.

A symposium on Sunday 15 November

On the Sunday, We Are The People will host a symposium looking at the different ways the project has been shaped by working co-productively with disabled people, with the aim of embedding meaningful and lasting change.

There will be guest speakers and workshops from the We Are The People team, plus panel discussions from Queer Out Loud CIC and Art Any Way artist James Lake. There is also a chance to make a protest placard or badge with artist Ruan Murphy.

Nothing about us, without us

Hazel Vernon, Project Manager at We Are The People, said: “Our project challenges the way research has been previously conducted, with a strong focus on being by disabled people, influenced by the historic ‘Nothing about us, without us’ slogan. This event at Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery will be an opportunity to share our research findings in an engaging and fun way. We’re very grateful to our funders, Wellcome, for all their support with this event and the project as a whole.”

A museum for all

Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery describes itself as committed to being a museum for all. It recently reached the finals of the Cornwall Tourism Awards in the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism category, which recognises spaces and teams that excel in providing an inclusive customer experience.

Emma Gibson, Programme and Engagement Manager at the museum, said: “It feels like a really important time in the very new world of disability research and activism. We’re privileged to be working with some of the leading academics and advocates in this area thanks to our partnership with We Are The People, at Bath Spa University.”

Emma added: “The Disability Joy weekend in November will be an opportunity for disabled people and non-disabled allies to come along and experience research outcomes, get involved by taking part in activities and enjoy the exhibitions as well as a spot of disco!”

📷The main gallery at Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery