Jazz & Disability
In 2020 I started speaking up about disability rights, inclusion and access. It has fed into my music work. I’ve created music inspired by my process of learning to speak up and also as means to communicate my message for change. I’m also now frequently asked to speak and perform on panels that seek to explore these issues. Here are some current and past events and projects.
Where Pathways Meet: The 2022 JPN Conference
I’m looking forward to attending this conference and also speaking on a panel to the question, What Does Inclusion Really Mean?
Date: Thursday 3 November, 2.30pm, The Factory
Room: The FactoryProgrammed in partnership with Moving On Music in Belfast and the Improvised Music Company in Dublin, ‘Where Pathways Meet’ will feature a range of speakers from across the jazz sector, alongside a showcase of jazz talent from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The conference will cover a broad range of topics, with panels featuring musicians, educators, promoters, agents and managers from all five nations.
Panel: Let’s Talk Access with Emilie Conway And Alber Saborio
10 September, 15:00 – 16:30, National Concert Hall / Your Place, reserve your place here
Who are our art spaces for? How accessible are our art spaces and who are they excluding? 3 disabled artists and theatre makers present a panel discussion on access needs for audiences and artists and how to make those happen.
When the Body Speaks: An Evening of Poetry, Stories and Music Curated by Trudie Gorman
14 September, 17:00 – 19:00, National Concert Hall, reserve your place here
Emilie joins other disabled artist to perform at this closing event When the Body Speaks: An Evening of Poetry, Stories and
The Chronic Collective Festival
Solid, Space and Sound workshop by Emilie Conway - August 8th 5-7pm
A multi-sensory experience using sound, touch, and a sense of atmosphere to communicate artistic ideas which will open engagement from a more diverse audience to your practice.
https://www.emilieconway.ie/audio-described-sensory-tours
Emilie Conway Performance at Chronic Collective
August 18, 6pm
All participants and audience regardless of accessibility requirements are asked to fill out this form for Chronic Collective to best cater to needs of the group. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSczd-2xaECTokh_DpWa0jt0buNceqgJ2_GcTd668sCsFj-iYw/viewform
For more information visit : http://pallasprojects.org/project/chronic-collective
The first Human Rights Festival
National Women’s Council of Ireland Disabled Women’s Group Visual Arts Showcase
Delighted to be invited to perform and be a panellist for this important event, celebrating disability in the arts and also asking important questions about art, activism, resilience .. and basically singing the blues but trying to stay on the sunny side of the street! It’s quite a balancing act!
ILMI Ceol ‘21: A Night To Remember
We’ve all on quite a journey with this pandemic and lockdown and all the restrictions. It feels to me as though, we are being confronted by our Shadow, collectively and individually. I mean the shadow in the Jungian sense. So, there is in the challenges of this crisis, a HUGE opportunity for transformation and progress. As Jung said:
“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.”
When I was went through hearing loss for a second time in 12 months, it brought me face to face with the vulnerability of disability, the reality of which I’ve spent the better part of my life running from. Because of my visual impairment, my music, my art, my independence are all dependent on my keeping my hearing. It was a very scary time.
This whole experience has made me take a deep look at how the State treats people with disabilities. Of necessity, it’s turned me into an activist. I’m finding my feet. I’m not fond of conflict, but these are human rights issues and I cannot stay silent on injustice.
Ireland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2018. We were the last European State to do so. Now we are reporting back the UN. In engaging in this process I’ve come in contact with two wonderful, trailblazing organisations: Disabled Women Ireland and Independent Living Movement of Ireland. Though people with disabilities should not have to fight for the same rights in 2021 ……
I am delighted to be performing for their event this coming Tuesday….. To book tickets, contact ILMI directly: info@ilmi.ie
SOCIAL INCLUSION WEEK: VOICES
VOICES celebrates, spotlights and explores the experiences of people who are visually impaired through music, spoken word, poetry, etc. One of the lovely things about online is that this event has attracted people from all over the country with all kinds of creativity to share. I've been delighted to learn about all these people and am so looking forward to sharing it this evening. .
While participation is by people who are visually impaired, the audience is open to all! So, if you would like to learn a little about different kinds of visual impairment and pass an enjoyable evening of music, poems, art and ideas, shoot me a mail: emilieconway@gmail.com