Strong Feelings
Incite Arts and the stArts with D Performance Ensemble presented Strong Feelings, a multi-disciplinary, disability-led exhibition held at Red Hot Arts in March 2023.
Strong Feelings told the varied and thought-provoking stories of a group of artists with disability living in Mparntwe/Alice Springs.
stArts with D artists shared their unique life journeys through a mixture of portraiture and storytelling; using costume, digital art, song, soundscapes, video and photography.
Strong Feelings at the National Portrait Gallery
A selection of work from Incite Arts and the stArts with D Performance Ensemble project ‘Strong Feelings’ was shown as part of the ‘Portrait23: Identity’ exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra – a well deserved honour!
Four of the stArts with D artists travelled all the way to Canberra for the opening of the exhibition.
Goodbyes and Hellos
We were sad to say goodbye to our Creative Producer, Co-Creator and Mentor, Lauren Jones, and our Admin Officer and Coordinator, Roni Judge. We’re so grateful for their dedication, hard work and humour and wish them both the very best in their future pursuits.
We welcomed our new Admin Manager, Mitch Mitchell to the Incite team. We also welcomed two new artists/facilitators, Leslie Simpson and Nina Annand, and three new artists, Tyler Goslett, Graham Wilfred Jr and Richard Glenn.
Awards & Prizes
In collaboration with the Alice Springs Town Council’s Mayoral Awards. We hosted the Mparntwe Alice Springs Ceremony of the NT Arts Access Awards. Congratulations to Janice Carroll and Strong Feelings for your wins!
And over at Bindi Arts… congratulations to stArts with D artist Fabian ‘Miller’ Miller who won the Central Desert Digital Art Prize, and to stArts with D Performance Ensemble for taking out the People’s Choice Award with their Strong Feelings films.
Theatre Makers
Lizzie Trew and Graham Wilfred Jr were supported by Incite facilitators Nina Annand and Leslie Simpson to create and perform works in the Theatre Makers Program.
Not to forget…
We organised two successful Southern Ngalia Dance Camps.
Films by stArts with D Performance Ensemble were played at 8CCC’s One Frequency Festival.
Listen and There Was A River by stArts with D Performance Ensemble were played at Campfire Stories at the NT Writers Festival.
We now have a full past programs page on our website.
Our historical records were given to QUT for their Evolution of Disability Arts in Australia project.
We continue to support Mparntwe born and bred artist, Tashka Urban, to undertake a research and development initiative into the First Nations Music Sector in the Mparntwe/Alice Springs region and surrounds.
Thank You!
Thanks to all of our supporters, artists and participants for a successful 2023. We couldn’t do it without you, and we look forward to working with you in 2024.
Image Descriptions and Credits:
[Photograph 1] Christopher Day, Brandon Williams (Arrernte/Warlpiri), Janice ‘Joy’ Carroll (Pitjantjatjara) from the stArts with D Performance Ensemble pose in varying styles for the National Portrait Gallery. Photo by Oliver Eclipse.
[Photograph 2] Four stArts with D artists are underneath a large sign that says “National Portrait Gallery”. There is an artwork depicting a figure flying sideways holding onto another figures hands. Photo by Incite Arts.
[Photograph 3] The stArts with D artists and two support workers gather together partly embracing and smiling with Lauren Jones, their friend, facilitator, mentor and co-creator. Five are standing and two are in wheelchairs.
[Photograph 4] Miller is sitting in his wheelchair, wearing a red and blue striped t-shirt with a bunch of native flowers with a yellow wrapping. Photo provided by Bindi Enterprises.
[Photograph 5] Lizzie and Nina are on stage lit by fairy lights. Lizzie’s colourful, digital artwork is displayed on a large projector screen behind them. Photo by Nico Liengme.
