Various art initiatives for the Philippines’ 43rd National Disability Week were a success as different organizations collaborated (including the Inclusive Arts Initiative) to become the arts empowerment cluster. The NDPR Arts Calendar promoted all 7 big events, from July 5 to 30, 2021, by leading public and private organizations supporting persons with disability through the arts.

​UP SUPER Sale of Art Shirts: An active student organization from the University of the Philippines, UP SUPER (Supporting PWDs Through Exercise and Recreation) kicked off their second round of sales of special shirts designed by 21 diverse-ability artists from Boundless Possibilities Foundation. The campaign aims to build funds for the UP SUPER’s programs, as an economic opportunity for the artists, and with a part of the proceeds going to the jeepney drivers who lost their work during the pandemic.

​The Boundless Possibilities Foundation launched their fourth virtual exhibit entitled “The Kaleidoscope Project: Panoramic Worlds”, featuring the collaborative works of the Gentle Giants artists. The opening was attended by the artists themselves, who proudly showcased their works from their creative journaling sessions since the year 2020.
 
Visit their exhibit page at https://www.inclusiveartsinitiative.com/kaleidoscope-project.html

The Quezon City Kabahagi Center for Children with Disabilities, under the office of city mayor Joy Belmonte, launched its virtual exhibit featuring the works of thirty-eight children with disabilities who participated in an inclusive arts program beginning October 2020. They brought a framed work featuring a collaboration of their art pieces as a gift to the city.
 
Visit their exhibit page at www.kabahagigawadsining.weebly.com

DENR's Angels of Art Workshop: As a culmination of the National Disability Week, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) organized a virtual art workshop attended by over 100 children and youth with disabilities. Under the theme “Angels of Art: Colors of the Environment”, they drew themselves with angel’s wings and drew elements of nature as its designs. What came out were an amazing  display of the diverse artistic styles of the participants! The session was facilitated by UP College of Fine Arts Instructor Amos V. Manlangit, MA(Sped)

Watch the Special Event here:

And to cap it all, the official NDPR shirt for this year was a collaborative effort by twenty-three diverse ability artists whose works were featured in the "art shirt" design! ​Congratulations to the National Council for Disability Affairs, led by Executive Director Engr. Emerito “Emer” Rojas, a distinguished leader, disability lead advocate and Quezon City Rotarian, for making all of these possible!

As part of its Saturday workshop series, Best Buddies Philippines collaborated with the Inclusive Arts Initiative and Vico's Artism Gallery by holding a movement-and-arts workshop. Teacher Vico Cham, a famous diverse-ability artist, teamed up with IAI founder Teacher Amos Manlangit to facilitate a simple movement and breathing activity that flows into a free flowing drawing activity. The numerous participants, who are active members of Best Buddies, gamely moved along and translated this into a visual creative output. It was a major blast on a warm Summer afternoon!  

The Singapore Drama Educators Association (SDEA) recently concluded its 2021 Conference titled "Creative Disruption: Exploring New Ground", under a fully virtual platform. From May 22 to 30, 2021, speakers shared about their experience and expertise through live virtual and on-demand presentations. This included master classes and workshops that would allow full participants control on the conference experience. 

Amos V. Manlangit, MA(Sped), founder of the Inclusive Arts Initiative, took part as an on-demand speaker from the Philippines. He talked about staging a virtual creative production for artists with disabilities, which was staged by the Boundless Possibilities Foundation. Learn more about the SDEA and join if you see yourself aligned with the vision of this great platform!

Would you like to be connected to the growing network of artist-teachers in Asia and the world? Join the Teaching Artists-Asia Network, powered by the International Teaching Artists' Collaborative (ITAC). Discover different ways of working from so many teaching artists in Asia, plus be part of this wonderful initiative of mapping our strengths across Asia, spearheaded by Drama Educator and Independent Theatre Director Jeffrey Tan (Singapore).

Visit the site by clicking the button below the image and fill out the Google Form by clicking on the upcoming virtual session! It started last May 31, 2021 and is ongoing (Singapore/Kuala Lumpur/Manila). 

Would you like the special persons in your life express and communicate their thoughts and feelings through art? The Inclusive Arts Initiative, in partnership with K-Time Intervention and Therapy Center in the Philippines, would like to invite you to "What's on Your Mind: Creative Forms of Journaling" which starts this May 2021! This initial 3-month long program will be an online engagement running at 3 x a week. We will hold a free 2-week trial from May 17 to 28, 2021, MWF at 5:00pm.

All that's needed is any clean sheet of paper, coloring materials and markers/pencils found at home. This is best recommended for teens and adults with special educational needs, since the facilitator tailor-fits this program for arts-and-disability.

The program would like to make the visual journaling experience a part of their weekly life in this new normal. Please reach Amos at +63 917 534 1780 or amosmanlangit@gmail.com.  

Imaginate, a national organisation in Scotland that promotes, develops and celebrates theatre and dance for children and young people, is holding conversations with disabled artists on 27th October 2020, Tuesday at 1000-1130 (GMT/UK), 1700-1830 (Singapore/Manila), 2000-2130 (Sydney).

​In this panel discussion, three talented and internationally renowned disabled artists who have made dance and/or theatre performance for young audiences-  Caroline Bowditch, Ramesh Meyyappan and Robert Softley Gale - will present their work and artistic practice, and talk about what inspires them to create performance for children and what their experience has been within the young audiences sector.
 
The event will be hosted by Imaginate’s Creative Development Director, Fiona Ferguson.
 
Visit https://www.imaginate.org.uk/digital-delegate-encounters-series/up-and-close/ for details and registration.

With the theme of preventing Covid 19 through strengthening one's immune system, the artists drew different kinds of healthy food on a real plate- on a specially fabricated Capiz surface (a unique product of the Philippines) that was specially delivered to them by Grab. They used Pentel's Juice Paint Markers to be able to color their drawings as it complement the beautiful luster of the Capiz shell. The artists enjoyed a full hour of sharing their thoughts and feelings about staying strong in a time of Pandemic, creating art that is as colorful as their view that after all, it is still a wonderful world to live in! Know more about Best Buddies and visit www.facebook.com/BestBuddiesPhilippines or 
http://www.bestbuddiesphilippines.com/ 

The International Sensory Lab: Recorded Sessions brings together artists from across the globe, to learn, create, and participate in an exploration of sensory theatre. The course is led in partnership with Rose Bruford College’s Theatre for Young Audiences Research Centre. It marks the launch of Sensory Lab, an ongoing training and research partnership to explore Sensory Theatre Practice.

The sessions allow artists and practitioners to watch course content in their own time and at their own pace. They get to explore audience engagement, collaboration and the creative process, with speakers including Oily Cart’s current Artistic Director, Ellie Griffiths, Oily Cart co-founder Tim Webb, sensory engagement specialist Joanna Grace, sensory theatre company Frozen Light, and poet, songwriter and artist Miss Jacqui, among others.

​Visit https://oilycart.org.uk/product/international-sensory-lab-recorded-sessions/​ for details.