We at Claire Cunningham Projects are outraged and saddened by the UK Government’s assault on the rights and dignity of disabled people. The proposed cuts and ongoing threats to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Access to Work are nothing short of shameful. These actions perpetuate a culture of fear, deepen systemic inequality, and reveal the staggering hypocrisy of a government that claims to support disabled people into work while simultaneously tearing down the very infrastructure that makes working possible.
We add our voices in solidarity with our colleagues Jess Thom, Birds of Paradise Theatre Co, Graeae, Dan Daw Projects, DaDaFest, Unlimited and others who have long been leading the charge for disability justice. We thank them for the clarity of their messages and the resources they have already provided — which we also share here — and urge all of our allies to sign these petitions, engage with recommended actions as possible and share where you can.
We also want to add our own personal note of heartbreak and anger that this situation has already led to the stepping back of Jess Thom from Tourettes Hero, an artist that Claire – and our whole team – truly hold in the highest regard. What Jess and Tourettes Hero’s work has done – and continues to do – for art and for disability justice, in our life time is immeasurable.
This is a pivotal moment. Please, add your voice. Push back against these damaging, discriminatory actions before so much of the progress made by generations of disability rights activists and artists in the UK is irreparably stripped away.
Briefing document from What Next? with information, resources, arguments, links and campaigns related to cuts and the arts and cultural sector.
Open Letter from the Creative and Cultural Sector
https://airtable.com/appSbdVCnzZyRIXJW/pagSDpACTNJP2rtrX/form?mc_cid=7aca7687fd&mc_eid=bd56a3c42c
Unlimited article on Disabled artists under threat
Disability Arts Online – changes to access to work
Jess Thom Tourettes Hero Statement