NOTWITHSTANDING: 100 Years of Eugenics In Alberta, Stage Left's contribution to Alberta's Centennial celebration; Big Secret Theatre, Calgary (2005)

WELCOME > ABOUT DDMAAC
THE DEAF, DISABILITY & MAD ARTS ALLIANCE OF CANADA
​A STAGE LEFT NETWORK, OF ARTISTS EXPERIENCING DISABLEMENT

What was established twenty years ago as a site of cultural autonomy, artistic self-determination, and collective representation...is now a site of inclusion wherein disabled people are dependent on the non-disabled for access to the arts. (CTR 165)

​Michele Decottignies, 
​Stage Left's founding Artistic Director

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VISION: Through DDMAAC, Stage Left cultivates grassroots conduits of cultural affinity, artistic autonomy and disability justice in Canada's Deaf/ Disability/ Mad Arts domain, and promotes the collective interests of artists whose lived experience of disablement advances artistic and aesthetic non-normativity.

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DDMAAC'S PURPOSE

1. Serve as a collective agent of solidarity, influence and
equity for disability justice in the professional arts ecology.

2. Provide a centralized hub of Deaf, Disability & Mad Arts advisors/ consultants, knowledge, resources and services. 

3. Advocate for increased investment in, sector resources for and consideration of disability equity in the DDMSTC* Arts domain.  

4. Claim spaces of artistic autonomy and cultural authority
for artists and art works that advance disability justice and non-normativity in the broader sector. 

5. Increase the use of accommodating production and presenting models in market access and artistic touring. 

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DDMAAC'S PRIORITIES

1. Promote Deaf Culture, Disability Justice and Mad Pride as sources of socio-political commentary and aesthetic innovation in DDMSTC* Arts.

2. Affirm Deaf/ Disabled/ Mad artists as fully qualified cultural contributors to the professional arts industry. 

3. Advance disability justice (decolonization, anti-racism, anti-oppression and non-normalization) within the domain and throughout the broader arts ecology.

3. Uphold the principals of disability justice in DDMAAC's services, programs and advocacy. 

4. Engage in cross-cultural solidarity with, and get behind the systemic advocacy of, other equity-seeking arts networks. 

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*DDMSTC Arts:  D/deaf/ hard of hearing; Disabled/ person with a disability; Sick/ spoonie/ survivor; Traumatized; Colonized....

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