Shifting the perspective from ‘incapable’ to ‘capable’ for artists with cognitive disability; case studies in Australia and South Korea

Abstract

This study examined four inclusive arts organisations in Australia and South Korea, providing creative services for artists living with cognitive disability, including autism, intellectual and mental disability. This research study focused on exploring what support inclusive arts organisations and society have provided for artists living with cognitive disability to pursue professional careers. The qualitative study used proxy intervention interviews with art staff and administrators from the four inclusive arts organisations and observation as a research method to include artists living with cognitive disability who do not speak. The findings reveal significant social support and strategies of the organisations are needed for artists living with cognitive disability to develop their art careers. It also discusses the impact of shifting the perception of disability from ‘incapable’ to ‘capable’ for artists living with cognitive disability in the wider mainstream art community and society.

Points of interest

• The study collected data through proxy interviews and observation in inclusive arts organisations which provide significant individual and organisational support for artists living with cognitive disability in Australia and South Korea

• The study found a growing demand for the development of artistic careers for artists living with cognitive disability as professionals beyond therapeutic or recreational art.

• Inclusive arts organisations provide creative services as a pathway of professional development for artists living with severe cognitive disability and communication difficulty.

• Art staff and administrators consulted in this study asserted that the public perception of people living with disability as being ‘incapable’ is embedded in our society.

• The study discusses positive ripple-effects on society when the perception around disability is shifted from ‘incapable’ to ‘capable’.

Keywords:

• Artists with cognitive disability
• nonverbal
• inclusive arts organisations
• SRV
• employment opportunities
• professional art careers

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all the art staff from the Australian and Korean inclusive arts organisations who willingly participated in the semi-structured interviews. It was an honour to meet all the art staff who lead a new trend of diverse art for artists living with cognitive disability in our society.

Disclosure statement

The authors declared no potential conflict of interest.

Figure 1. Overview of enablers for building artistic capacity.

Notes

1 National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was introduced in Australia from 2013 as person-centred funding system (NDIS ACT, 2013).

2 Inclusive arts organisation A in Melbourne has supported artists living with cognitive disability for more than 40 years.

3 Inclusive arts organisation B in Sydney follows a social enterprise model to promote the concept of ‘neurodiverse’ artists as professional artists with unique artistic styles.

4 Inclusive arts organisation C in South Korea employs artists living with cognitive disability as illustrators to work on the cover designs of products, such as stationery, bookstands and desk lamps.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.