Moving Beyond the art-as-service paradigm: The evolution of arts and disability in Singapore

Justin Lee Hing Giap, Shawn Goh Ze Song, Sarah Meisch Lionetto, Joanne Tay, Alice Fox

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding with ISSN or ISBNChapterpeer-review

Abstract

While there has been increasing support for arts and disability in Singapore, funders and voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) tend to regard the arts as a service that achieves therapeutic outcomes for clients, or social goals such as community bonding. They adopt an instrumental attitude that treats the arts as just one community asset out of many others which they can mobilise to serve their target beneficiaries. However, viewing the arts solely as a service neglects its expressive value, aesthetic power, and emancipatory potential. Such an approach fails to acknowledge how disability arts can enrich the broader arts scene with diverse perspectives, creating culture, and redefining the identities of disability communities. When nurtured, disability arts can be a powerful way of exploring meaningful and authentic social inclusion while combatting prejudice towards people with disabilities.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationRoutledge Handbook of Disability Arts, Culture and Media Studies
EditorsBree Hadley, Donna McDonald
Place of PublicationNew York
PublisherRoutledge
Chapter8
Pages100-113
Number of pages13
Volume1
Edition1
ISBN (Electronic)9781351254687
ISBN (Print)9780815368410
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jan 2019

Keywords

  • inclusive arts
  • disability arts
  • participatory arts
  • community arts
  • learning disability
  • developmental disability

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