Disability/Participation in Cultural Life, Recreation, Leisure and Sport/Theory of Change

Click on each outcome in the Theory of Change to explore services, gaps and ideas.

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Theory of Change

Short-Term Outcomes(skills, knowledge, attitudes)		Mid-Term Outcomes(behaviours)		Long-Term Outcomes(impact)		Social Impact
Accessibility measures for public arts infrastructure, events and activities	→	Disabled people can lead and participate in the arts				Persons with disabilities can take part in cutural life, recreation, leisure and sport on an equal basis with others
Greater awareness and discourse on the relationship between disability and the arts	→
Opportunities for disabled people to be involved in the arts	→
		Disabled people can lead and participate in sport

Accessibility measures for public arts spaces, events and activities → Disabled people can lead and participate in the arts

• Focus here is on accessibility provisions

Programmes	Gaps	Ideas
Extended concessions at museums At all National Heritage Board (NHB) museums and heritage institutions as well as the Singapore Art Museum and National Gallery Singapore, persons with disabilities enjoy the lowest concession price for permanent and special exhibitions, and an accompanying caregiver is also given complimentary entry.
Physical accessibility for museums (see page 128) Museums such as the National Museum of Singapore and National Gallery Singapore are access friendly, with designated parking and accessible restrooms for visitors The ‘Quiet Mondays’ programme has been in place since 2013 at Asian Civilisation Museum and the Peranakan Museum, where special needs and elderly groups enjoy priority bookings and tailored programmes. Disability-friendly guided tours are also offered
Audits to ensure compliance with physical accessibility guidelines
	Sign language interpretation at theatre productions is lacking Highly complex and literary nature of artistic productions makes it difficult, time-consuming and costly (in terms of manpower) to prepare for play interpretations. Additionally, many local English productions provide neither subtitles nor interpreters. Despite the rhetoric of an inclusive society, our integration is a long way off. The majority of our theatre productions are still inaccessible to people with disabilities. Likewise, the majority of our population, including myself, has yet to understand and accept the needs of people with disabilities, and to learn how to accommodate them in daily life.	Provide training and financial support for sign language interpreters to perform specialised access functions such as in the arts, e.g., interpreters will also assist to advise seating, lighting etc. to facilitate viewing of the play.

Greater awareness and discourse on the relationship between disability and the arts→ Disabled people can lead and participate in the arts

• Includes moving from instrumentalisation/pure aesthetics in the arts to disability-led arts that is generative
• Debunking stigma, stereotypes etc.

Programmes	Gaps	Ideas
Annual Arts and Disability Forum/Conference by Singapore International Foundation 2020 cancelled because of Covid-19 - see past iterations here
	Dominant discourse maintains that art is an (instrumentalised) “service” provided to the disability community. - see commentary by Justin Lee here	"Art is an important tool for reflection that helps raise critical questions about the appropriate meanings of disability. It can even be a powerful tool for research and advocacy, and even demonstrate how to achieve meaningful and authentic participation for the social inclusion of people with disabilities." - see full commentary by Justin Lee here

Opportunities for disabled people to be involved in the arts → Disabled people can lead and participate in the arts

Programmes	Gaps	Ideas
Very Special Theatrics A partnership between Very Special Arts Singapore & ACT 3 Theatrics An all-inclusive, semi-professional performing company that has persons with special needs at the core. It is also a platform for special needs and mainstream artists to train, develop, create and perform together.
Very Special Arts - Arts for Livelihood and Employment (ALIVE) Aims to offer lifelong learning and career opportunities for people with disabilities, as well as equipping them with the skills and confidence that will enable them to find employment and independence.
Very Special Arts - Arts for Performance and Expression (APEX) Offers a variety of courses and workshops in dance, music and drama, as well as excursions and performances
Very Special Arts - Voice of Individual’s Creative ExpressionS (VOICES) Nurtures the artistic ability and talent of persons with special needs and develops them into visual artists or craftsmen or performing artistes. Programme begins with confirmation of the talent and interest of the beneficiary. This is followed by enrolment into a class (i.e. Visual, Literary or Performing Art) for training and opportunity to develop skillsets further through art appreciation excursions and mentoring by a professional artist or artiste.
Very Special Arts - Arts in Learning, Rehabilitation and Training (ALERT) Encompasses a wide range of art programmes for people with disabilities of all ages to ensure a bridge for interaction, self-development and expression Includes: Special Art Class, School Holiday Programmes and Art Competition
Superhero Me Non-profit inclusive arts movement that focuses on inclusive programming and training, creative advocacy and strategic cross-sector partnerships to shape the narrative of inclusion in Singapore and serves as a platform for social mixing where children of all abilities work together through creative experiences that encourage perspective, empathy and resilience.
Extraordinary People Offers performing arts classes and opportunities
Certificate in Visual Arts by NAFA 5-month programme certified by NAFA's Centre for Lifelong Education, open to artists who have at least four years of visual arts training at Very Special Arts
Platforms to distribute art by people with disabilities KrisShop. SIA launched a new platform to provide artists with disabilities more opportunities to sell their art to an international audience. Mouth & Foot Painting Artists Pte Ltd. Formed in 1956, the MFPA is an international, for-profit association wholly owned and run by disabled artists to help them meet their financial needs. Members paint with brushes held in their mouths or feet as a result of a disability sustained at birth or through an accident or illness that prohibits them from using their hands. The Art Faculty by Pathlight. Retail art gallery featuring resident artists, art workshops and merchandise by talented artists with special needs. A service by the Autism Resource Centre (ARC). The Touch Art Programme. Provides opportunities for the Visually Impaired to produce and sell quality artworks.
Non-recurring programmes and opportunities? (Past/present) And Suddenly I Disappear: the Singapore 'd' Monologues - see performance here. Disability-led. M1 Peer Pleasure Youth Theatre Festival 2020 - themed on disability and involving disabled people/artists Unseen: Constellations (2016) Story Carnival @ Enabling Village (2018) Not In My Lifetime?. Disability-led.