About

Project presentation in German Sign Language with German captions.

Project objectives

Since 2018, Making a Difference has been dedicated to promoting an independent and visible community of disabled, d/Deaf and chronically ill artists in the Berlin dance scene. The network offers dancers, choreographers and performers high-quality, accessible training opportunities through a wide range of workshops, as well as the conception and realisation of their own artistic works through residencies and co-productions. Since 2018, about a dozen disabled, d/Deaf and chronically ill artists have been able to visibly position themselves in the Berlin dance scene. The work of Making a Difference has a far-reaching impact, that encourages institutions and cultural workers throughout Germany to make their work more inclusive and accessible.

The guiding principle of the project is to fill all artistic and non-artistic leadership positions with disabled, d/Deaf and chronically ill people. Only if they make the decision and create work themselves, they can equally participate in cultural life as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Article 30). They are also the experts in the artistic use of access tool, such as audio description, relaxed performance or sign language(s).

The second phase of the project (2022-2024) will focus on these Aesthetics of Access in its programme of workshops for local artists to support them in developing their own inclusive practices.

In addition, the transfer of knowledge and thus the sustainable development of the partners’ competences in inclusive and anti-ableist cultural work is an essential part of the second project phase. The best-practice knowledge gained in the project will be passed on to all network partners in the form of consultations and workshops. The aim is that after the end of the project in February 2024, the training, education and advisory services as well as the production and performance platforms of the network partners will be as accessible to disabled, d/Deaf and chronically ill artists as they already are to non-disabled and hearing artists.

The Network

Team

Das Foto zeigt Noa Winter sitzend vor einem Hintergrund aus grünem Efeu. Noa ist eine weiße Person, die mit einem leichten Lächeln in die Kamera blickt. Noa hat lange dunkelbraune Haare und Augenbrauen, trägt rechts ein Nasenpiercing und ein schwarzes, offenes Hemd über einem schwarzen Kleid. Auf dem Hemdkragen ist auf jeder Seite eine dunkelgrüne Schlange gestickt, deren Farbe mit Noas grün-schimmerndem Nagellack harmoniert. Noas Hände liegen überkreuzt auf dem Holzgriff des Gehstocks.
Noa Winter
Gina ist eine weiße, nichtbehinderte cis Frau Mitte 30. Auf dem Foto steht Gina vor einer grauen Betonwand, blickt direkt in die Kamera und lächelt verschmitzt. Sie hat braunes, welliges Haar bis zu den Schultern. Sie trägt ein schwarzes, schulterfreies Shirt.
Gina Jeske
Anne ist eine weiße, nicht-behinderte cis Frau Ende 30. Sie hat mittellanges blondes Haar und lächelt direkt in die Kamera. Sie trägt eine schwarzes T-Shirt.
Anne Rieger

Funded by:

Logo Tanzpakt Stadt-Land-Bund
Logo Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien
Logo Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt