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Project Introduction

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Introduction to the Diverse Abilities Panel Project

This project is called The Diverse Abilities Panel Project. It was created to premiere live at the Performance Studies International Conference, in Hamburg Germany, in June 2017.

The purpose of this panel project is to Represent and Celebrate Artists of Diverse Abilities, (which is my created term to replace DISabled) in Canada, and all around the World.

Our purpose is also to raise awareness about the Lack of Opportunities, for Artists of Diverse Abilities to have a Voice through paid work, due to Ongoing, Oppressive Attitudinal Barriers.

In addition, we are creating this project to offer specific solutions and ideas, as to how to eradicate these barriers, for governments, businesses, organizations, communities, and everyone in between, and also for other Artists, who still do not include our Diversities in their festivals, events, and independent arts projects.

Ironically, and in yet another Highly Painful, and Highly Powerful example, of the Relentlessness of these Attitudinal Barriers, (and in this the year 2017, and in Canada’s 150th anniversary, no less), despite months and months of approaching: the Canadian government; hundreds of wealthy, large Canadian and other businesses; the media, including about 40 newspapers across Canada, and in other countries, (which I sent an article to, and asked them to contact me first, if they wanted to publish it); as well as the oldest broadcaster in Canadian history; and probably the biggest Canadian TV talk show; and countless other potential large organizations, sponsors and donors; None of them came forward to sponsor or fund this project. None of them came forward to ask me to publish my article, the latter of which could also have helped us to raise awareness and money for this project. A very large percentage of them did not even answer my e-mails, which contained my article about this project, and my website.

Not only were we NOT given enough money, to both create this project, and to travel to Germany, to take our place at this conference to Represent Canada, we were NOT even given enough money to create this project, or to pay people properly.

My Project was selected from 500 submissions from 40 countries.

Therefore, I had to use my own debt (yet again) to cover most of the costs of this project, in order to ensure that my Artists and myself were not Silenced, (once again) and that this project would really happen, and that they would in fact be given a Public Voice. I then created this alternative method of doing this panel, by filming and hosting it on my website.

I did this in order to continue our URGENTLY needed work, of Obtaining 100% Inclusion and Major Change-Making, for Artists of Diverse Abilities, both in Canada and all around the World. My Techie J.P. Hunter and I, also worked for free (yet again) and I was only able to pay my Artists very small honourariums, far less than they deserved for their Fantastic Works!

A small group of dedicated people also came forward to help.

We have on this website for this project, and for your Inspiration, Education, and Enjoyment, talks and performances by the Wonderful Writer, Singer/Songwriter, Dancer, Musician and Performance Artist Vivian Chong, and her Guide Dog Catcher. We have the Wonderful Writer and Performer A.M. Matte, and her young son, Writer Rohan S. We have myself, also an Artist, and you can see my “Who I am” short film and text, for more information about me. J.P. Hunter, my Techie, donated countless hours of work and time, (yet again) to do my filming, editing, and my website, along with myself.

C. Derrick Chua Barrister and Solicitor, donated his legal services.

Dr. Carolyn Poon Woo loaned me her beautiful dental office space, which you can see right now in the film, and A.M. Matte arranged for the space in which to film herself.

Dr. Jaclyn Chin (dentist) came forward, as the only Donor of money for this project.

Graeme Rivers of Christie Lights, and Artist Slade Lander, provided advice and/or referrals for this project.

This is the overall umbrella under which this project still managed to be created.

I want to THANK ALL of Them!!!

There is an Overflow of Gifted and Talented Artists of Diverse Abilities in Canada, and all around the World!!!

There is also a near Invisibility of our Gifts, Talents and Arts Projects, in all of the arts fields. This Invisibility is especially true, in terms of Projects which are both Created and Led by Artists, from Our Own Diversities and Communities.

I couldn’t create a better or more Current example to Illustrate this Fact for you, than what I just described to you, concerning what just happened to my Diverse Abilities Panel Project.

It came very close to remaining Invisible and Silent, through Non-existence, due to a Lack of Respectful sponsorship, donors, or a Belief in the Importance and Urgency of Our Work, and Our Voices.

This is exactly what happens to Countless of Thousands of other Arts Projects by Artists of Diverse Abilities, both in Canada, and all around the World, Every Single Day!!!

Thus, this is yet another Crucial Arts Project by Artists of Diverse Abilities, which YOU, the Worldwide public, almost did NOT get a chance to Experience!!!

Before we start, I would like to pay TRIBUTE to All of the Aboriginal, Inuit and other Indigenous Peoples in Canada and All around the World, whose land we are living on, and who are the Original and Ongoing Preservers, Respecters, and Role Models, of the Environmental World, for all of us.

I would also like to thank Every Advocate and Change-Maker who has come before me in time, and every one of you who are sharing the earth with me right now. You have been, or are out there right now, Creating, Role Modelling, and Sharing your Ideas on how to Create Safety, Equity and Respectful Inclusion for Us All. Each one of your Voices is Crucial to us all, and you are all my Inspirations!!!

I also want to Highlight all of the People of Diverse Abilities, the Womyn, Girls, Youth, Elders, the People of all Ethnicities and Cultures, and the LGBTTIQQ Communities. In addition, I want to Highlight those who, like myself, are working towards a world where we are Beyond All Labels, because we will have attained 100% Safety, Peace, Health, Inclusion, Mutual Respect and Equal Opportunities, and a World where We are All simply called “People.”

My newest Hero, and Spiritual Twin Frank Kameny - who I just learned about two days ago in the Fantastic Film Lavender Scare, at the Inside Out Film Festival - said, “Either I can change myself to fit the world, or I can change the world to fit me. I am going to change the world to fit me.” Of course, he did change the world, and to make it better fit a Massive Number of People from the LGBTTIQQ Communities. He was also called “The Grandfather” of the LGBTTIQQ Rights Movement in the United States.

Another Fantastic Role Model for us all!

Please Note: The day after I shot all of my short films for this project, I learned about another Phenomenal Hero and Role Model for us All, Jewel-Thais-Williams, who was the focus of the Doc Jewel’s Catch One, at the Inside Out Film Festival this year. She took More Action to help More People, of More Diversities than I can even list here. To donate to her health clinic, which Never turns anyone away, regardless of their economic situation, please go to villagehealthfoundation.org

Now I Invite You to Explore Each of my Artist’s Fantastic Projects for this panel, to Imbibe in their Talks and their Inspiration, Creation, Joy, Intelligence, Ideas, Experiences, and Their Well Informed Solutions to Achieving 100% Equity and Inclusion, for Artists of Diverse Abilities, both in Canada and all around the World!!!

Take your time. You are Welcome to come back to my website as often as you want to be here. I am leaving this project up for at least one year, so that as many People as possible, living All around the World can see it.

I am also going to transcribe what my Artists are saying in the films, since I do not have the complete text from them. I will be putting what they say up, either as text right next to their films, or as subtitles within these films, to make this project as Barrier Free as possible. Please watch for this change on my site.

You too can be Directly Inspired to Make Changes, to Achieve 100% Inclusion of Artists and People of Diverse Abilities, in Your Work and Lives!!!

Thank You for being Our Audience!!!

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Biography for Vivian Chong

Vivian Chong has been selected to be on my panel. She is a very talented playwright, actress, dancer, and singer/songwriter. Her favourite instrument is the Ukulele. She also has an upcoming show that I recommend you see, if it is not sold out yet.

“She lost her sight and temporarily lost her hearing, and she's here to share an unbelievable true-life tale of healing and determination.”

Following two sold-out performances, Vivian Chong is bringing her inspiring stage show The Sunglasses Monologue back to the Second City's John Candy Box Theatre, for one night only: Saturday, April 8.

Vivian is also deeply involved in her community. She is in three community choirs, and two drumming groups. You can see Vivian performing at Roy Thompson Hall, Massey Hall, The Muhtadi Drumming Festival, and at various street festivals.

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Excerpt from Sunglasses Monologue by Vivian Chong

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Vivian Chong Speaks about Diverse Abilities

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Biography for A.M. Matte

Matte, A.M.: Award-winning Bilingual (French/English) Writer, Playwright, Producer, Creator, Performance Artist, Teacher,  Facilitator, and Administrator

short story collections: Ce que l'on divulgue and Where Pigeons Roost and other stories

touring play: Les murs ont des yeux; Seven Dragon Happy-Go-Lucky Golden Garden House of Foo(d)

Website: ammatte.ca

Internet Speculative Fiction Database (isfdb.org)

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Biography for Rohan S

Children's author (Poème de lune) and Pokémon trainer. Rohan S. enjoys reading, running, inventing stories and playing video games.

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Excerpt from Walls Have Eyes by A.M. Matte

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Text for Walls Have Eyes by A.M. Matte

Bathroom : So there’s your oh-so-famous tablecloth. Ooh, that’s really stained, eh! Isn’t that too bad. She’s put the tablecloth under my tap. Hot-hot water to rub the stain out. She’s scrubbin’ hard-hard… It’s like that other time I saw her scrubbin’ hard-hard like that, when the little ones were, well, little. They would come to my place, the three of them, and she would put on make-up, and put make-up on the little girl – and the little boy would want to have make-up on, too. It was so funny! She put some pink powder on their cheeks… and blue, and green, on their eyes… and red lipstick on their lips and they paraded around, all three of them, admirin’ their new looks in my pretty-pretty mirrors that you can adjust to see yourself better – it was so-so fun; they laughed so hard…! And then, she heard somethin’. …She moved so fast. She started to take off the make-up, quick-quick – she rubbed really hard with the washcloth… Quick-quick, she scrubbed, scrubbed… And then, she threw away the washcloth rather than take the time to rinse it, eh! She shooed the little ones away and hid the washcloth under some tissues in the waste basket. They never came back to play. Well, she came back, every day; she’d put on make-up, but not with the same pleasure as before: she’d need lots-lots more make-up. She still puts on lots, these days, but she doesn’t look in the mirrors anymore.  

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Excerpt from Birdsong by A.M. Matte

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Text for Birdsong by A.M. Matte

"Viens ici, Arianne."

My mother called me from the kitchen.

"Arianne!" my mother called again.

I obliviously continued playing dress-up in the family room, lost in a world of my three-and-a-half-year-old imagination.

More than slightly irked, my mother stepped away from the stove and neared where I was playing. She called again, sharply, intending to let me know her displeasure at my disobedience and at having to repeat herself so many times.

"Ari-anne!

I turned around sweetly, looking up at her, surprised she was so close-by. I put down my magic wand.

"Oui, Maman?"

This innocent reply to my mother's insistent calls immediately erased from her mind the reason she wanted my attention and triggered in her a series of questions about my hearing. Thinking back, both she and my father had noticed a recent tendency of mine to ignore certain comments and not be bothered by loud noises.

The paediatrician and a series of tests at the Children's Hospital's audiology department confirmed that a serious amount of fluid had built up in my ears, leading to a 40% hearing loss. My parents agreed to have me undergo a surgery to place small, thin tubes in my ears, designed to drain the fluid and restore my hearing to its fullest potential before fitting me with hearing aids.

The details of the surgery are fuzzy, but it must have been a success: emerging from the hospital that day, I encountered a new world. The previously quiet parking lot now seemed teeming with excitement: car doors being slammed shut, motors revving up, brakes squealing in protest. Beyond that, the city hummed: the hospital PA system beckoning, distant sirens blaring, construction drills echoing.

But best of all were the chitter-chatter and strident calls of fauna coming from the bristling leaves of the surrounding trees. During the ride home with my father, I marvelled at everything I could now hear and was eager to tell Maman all about it.

She was standing on the porch when the car pulled up the drive, anxiously awaiting our return. Delighted with the discoveries I was making, I ran into my mother’s arms, crying out: “Maman, the birds are singing to me!”

Maman scooped me up and covered me with kisses, relieved all had gone well.

Of course, after that, when I didn’t come when called, she knew I was doing it on purpose.

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Queen's Park by A.M. Matte

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Text for Queen's Park by A.M. Matte

Queen's Park
L'odeur croustillante des feuilles dorées, ambrées, qui virevoltent en un dernier cri de vie avant de sombrer dans l'amas où je plonge, emplit la fraîcheur qui dément la présence des sans- abris partis à l'aube. Un rayon se faufile entre les branches pour caresser la joue de bronze d'Al Purdy qui fixe son regard sans vue au delà de Queen's Park.

The crisp smell of the golden, amber leaves, which twirl in a last cry of life before sinking into the cluster in which I plunge, fills the fresh air that denies the presence of the homeless gone at dawn. A sliver of sunshine slips through the branches to stroke Al Purdy's bronze cheek; his blank stare surpassing Queen's Park.

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A.M. Matte Speaks about Diverse Abilities

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Who I Am by Ariel Len

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Who I Am, and Some of the Work That I Have Done so Far, and What I Want to Create Next:

I am Ariel Len of Zoey’s Projects, a Canadian Filmmaker, Creator, Producer, Director, Choreographer, Dancer, Writer, Multi-Medium, Visual and Performance Artist.

I Founded Zoey’s Projects in 2006 (www.zoeysprojects.com) to work on a more than full time basis as an Independent Artist, to Create, Lead, Produce, and Direct Films and other Projects, in Exciting and Unlimited ways, often through Interconnecting, Diverse Mediums. To date, I have created more Projects than I have honestly had the time to count. Many of these Projects are right here on my website, (zoeysprojects.com) often with Film clips, and Detailed Descriptions about them.

I am Very Proud to be one of the few, Canadian, Womyn of Diversities out there, (especially in the Worlds of Film and Dance) who Creates, Leads, Produces and Directs Her Own Projects.

In addition, I am one of the few Choreographers and Dancers in Canada, and no doubt also in the World, who has trained myself like an Olympic Athlete, so that I can put down my cane to Dance My Own Works. I also Create and Perform with my cane, and/or with my wheelie, (aka walker on wheels) when suited to the theme of my Work.

My Creations Represent and Celebrate Womyn, and People of all Diversities and Cultures, both Invisible and Visible, including People of Diverse Abilities. This is because I love all Diversities, and because none of us are Represented or Celebrated in population proportional numbers, especially in the arts.

This is one of the main reasons why I founded Zoey’s Projects, why I Create and Lead all of My Own Projects, and why I have been trying to make Feature Length Films, Feature Docs, and also a Diverse, Multi-Medium, World Touring, Theatre Style Show.

I also want to start New Mentoring and Training Programs for Artists, Crew and Staff of all Diversities, and all Ages, as a part of each of my Projects, as I work to attain 100% Inclusivity in all Arts Genres.

The other day I saw the Fantastic Film Woman on Fire, at the Inside Out Film Festival in Toronto. They stated that only 4% of the Firefighters in the New York Fire Department are Womyn, and I thought, “That is a funny and tragic ‘coincidence,’ because it is the exact same number of Womyn Directors who are out there, working in film today, in all of North America!”

My Feature Length Documentary and Experimental Film, I Ate the H0le Thing which Represents and Celebrates 36 Diverse, Canadian Womyn, in more than 6 languages, including American Sign Language, premiered Internationally in the U.S. Currently I have another Feature Length, Doc/Experimental Film in post production called - How Ariel Gets Her Groove On!!! Through this film, I have created a new way of showing film to an audience, both in theatres and online. I also have a second film (about 40 minutes in length) currently in post-production entitled, What if Hilda Doolittle (a.k.a. H.D.) was Secretly into Dada???!!!

Dance is often a key component in my Work, and I frequently integrate it with everything from Film, to Painting, to Performance Art, to something I Invented and have named, Reclaimed Drag. This is an Art Form Inspired by Drag Queens who I Adore, but in this case, I am a Womyn who Celebrates/Pays Tribute primarily to other Womyn, but also to some men. This is done through Dance (instead of Lip Syncing), and through Drag look alike Costumes/Wigs, and often also combined with other Arts Mediums. So far, I have Created Dance/Reclaimed Drag/Performance/Multi-Medium Art Works, to Pay Tribute to Ms. Marilyn Monroe, Mrs. Ellen DeGeneres, and H.D. a.k.a. Hilda Doolittle.

I have also Invented Dance-Painting, which is done with real paint, and 5 body mounted paint brushes, on giant canvases, and for Live Performances, with Imaginary Paint.

In addition, I Invented Face-Dancing, so that People who use wheelchairs, and/or who can move their heads only, can learn how to Experience the Joy of Dance. It is also Fun for kids, families, and everyone else to do, either Solo or in a Group!

Face-Dancing is what I chose to make a new short film about, for the Diverse Abilities Panel Project. I have shot a “How To Face- Dance Film,” so that you can all learn how to do Face-Dancing, along with me. I have also shot “Face-Dancing The Video” a fun short film with all of the Artists doing my Face-Dancing Choreography, to the song, “Jealous of My Boogie” by RuPaul, for you all to enjoy.

My Film, Dance, Writing, Multi-Medium, Visual and Performance Art Works, have been Shown or Performed Live, for Industry Members, and/or the Public, Internationally, Nationally, and also through many Toronto Festivals and Events, only some of which are: GiRLFeST Film Festival in Hawaii, Hot Docs, Frauen (Women’s) International Film Festival, CDA’s National Dance Week, International Womyn’s Day Poetry Event, International SWAN (Support Womyn Artists Now) Day, International Festival Word for the World, Nuit Blanche (twice), and the Toronto Fringe Festival. I am also listed on the prestigious (IMDB) Internet Movie Database.

I have Ideas for a Series of Powerful and Important Feature Length Docs, which I want to start making as soon as possible, to premiere in theatres. I have a Ground Breaking and Exciting, Feature Length Film which I want to make, for which I have Created the storyline. I have a Riveting Drama series (with some Humour as well) which I want to make for TV/Online. I have several Dance works that I want to create, and Visual Art Pieces that I want to make. I have also Written a new kind of book with about 100 of my Wordscapes, (including a new way I Invented of laying out words on a page) and about 70 Photos which I Created and for which I posed. I also want to finish the 2 films of mine which are in post production.

All of the above require Investors, Angels, Donors, Co-Executive Producers, and other Professionals, to assist in either finishing, or making these projects.

This is some of the Work that I have Created so far.

You are welcome to Explore more of my Work on this, my website.

Thanks.

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Ariel Explains How to Face-Dance^©

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Face-Dancing^© 101: How to Face Dance

I Invented Face-Dancing so that People who use wheelchairs and/or who can only Move their Faces, can Fully Experience the Joys of Dance and Music!!!

It is also Fun for children, families, and adults - Anyone who wants to Face-Dance in the privacy of their homes, either as a Solo Dancer, or in small groups with friends and family.

Face-Dancing is Copyrighted to/Owned by me.  Therefore, no one else can teach or perform it publicly, or receive any payment for teaching or performing it anywhere.  However, EVERYONE in the WORLD is WELCOME to Perform it in their homes!!!

You can do any of these movements that you wish, to any music which you select. You can also Create many more moves, by playing with your face, just like I did, to Invent Face-Dancing.  Do whatever you can, and go at the pace that is safest, and that works best for you. If we are doing a move that does not work for you, then feel free to try something else on your own, that does work for you.

Enjoy!!!

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Face-Dancing^© Performance

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Face-Dancing^© Demonstration

Eyebrow Face-Dancing
   1) Raise your eyebrows up, and hold them as high as you can
   2) Lower them, and furrow them tightly, and then suddenly, release them
   3) Make them go up and down, as slow, or as fast as you want to

Eyelash and Eyeball Face-Dancing
   1) Squint your eyes tightly, but so that you can still see out of them
   2) Keep them squinted, and then slightly open and shut your eyes, as fast as you can, while still keeping
       them squinted
   3) Now without squinting anymore, open and shut your eyes as slowly, or as quickly as you can
   4) Open your eyes suddenly and very widely, while looking as surprised as you can, and look around the
       room
   5) Now throw in some raises and lowering of your eyebrows, while looking around the room
   6) Now by using only your eyeballs and keeping your head straight, look up, then look to the right, and then
       look down, and then look to the left
   7) Next, make your eyes roll all the way around in a complete circle, first by starting to the right, and then
       by starting to the left.

Nose and Mouth Face-Dancing
   1) Lower your nose, by pulling your lips down
   2) Raise your nose, by pushing your mouth upwards
   3) Wiggle your nose side to side by using your mouth, and if you want use your finger to help you, by
        rotating which side of your nose your finger is on
   4) Wiggle your nose up and down, by also pushing your mouth up and down
   5) Flare your nostrils wide open, by inhaling suddenly and stretching them open
   6) You can also practice breathing in time with the music, but it is best to choose a slower song to do this
         to begin with, until you get experienced with it

Mouth, Tongue and Cheek Face-Dancing
   1) Purse your lips like you do for a kiss
   2) Open your mouth as long as you can, into an elongated O
   3) Smile, but do not show your teeth
   4) Smile, and show your teeth
   5) Stretch you mouth as far as you can from side to side, without showing your teeth
   6) Whistle if you want to
   ***For this next part, always make sure that you do not move the rest of your body, whenever you are using
         your tongue to Dance, because you could bite your tongue and hurt it.
   7) Stick your tongue straight out
   8) Stick your tongue out to the left
   9) Stick your tongue out to the right
   10) Stick your tongue out and down
   11) Trace your teeth inside your mouth, with your tongue going in a complete circle
   12) If you are gifted in the art of Inuit Throat Singing, like the Fantastic, Inuit Canadian Artist, Tanya Tagaq,
        then feel free to do this art, at any point while Face-Dancing!

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Introduction to Ariel Talks

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Introduction to Ariel Talks

I have a created this Diverse Abilities Panel Project, as both a Representation of, and a Celebration, of Artists of Diverse Abilities.

It also provides countless, very specific and concrete answers to the question of, “What can I do???” to as many places in Canada, and in the World as possible, concerning how each of you can create 100% Inclusivity for Artists of Diverse Abilities, from the governments, to the for-profit sector, to the non-profits, to Independent Artists, and to everyone in between. There are many more things that you can each do, and solutions that you can also create, but these ideas will get you started.

I also want to send a special message out to everyone in the world, who is a Person of Diverse Abilities, as well as everyone else, who has experienced the Horrific levels of Discrimination, Hate Crimes, and Exclusion which are happening out there, on a daily basis.

Every time you experience this Exclusion, Hatred, and Abuse, it is Especially Crucial for you to take a moment to remember, that You Have A Lifetime of Highly Valuable, Wisdom Packed, Expertise, no matter what anyone else says, or does to you!!!

WE ARE ALL AMAZING!!!!

These are some of the reasons why I am choosing to focus my Energy, upon talking about some of my countless ideas, concerning how to create 100% Inclusion and Population Proportional Representation in Employment, for Artists of Diverse Abilities, and thus vicariously, for other Diversities as well.

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What the Screen-based and all other Arts Industries in Canada and All Around the World Can Do, to Create 100% Inclusion for Artists of Diverse Abilities (and all Diversities) in Canada and the World: A Bonus and Urgent Idea

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What the Screen-based and all other Arts Industries in Canada and All Around the World Can Do, to Create 100% Inclusion for Artists of Diverse Abilities (and all Diversities) in Canada and the World: A Bonus and Urgent Idea

The use of the word “Nobody” to describe any human being, must be banished from the vocabulary of the screen based and other arts industries!!!

First of all, you can’t even begin to imagine what an extra slap in the face this word is to Artists, Creative Leaders, and Oppressive, Ceiling Blasters of Diverse Abilities, as we sit there with our wheelchairs, canes, etc. and you do not, while you use this term to describe people you don’t know or value, from your guest panels.

Secondly, what you are actually saying when you call us that, is that you have long been a person of economic and career privilege, and power. You have forgotten that it took at last one powerful person, and probably a series of them, to give you the opportunities to get where you are.

You have also forgotten that you have no idea who We are, and how hard We work, and usually for no, or almost no money, out of necessity to get our Work and our Voices out there.

You also have no idea how Gifted, Talented, Intelligent, Visionary and Creative We are.

You also have no understanding that we face more discrimination than you can possibly imagine, and on a daily basis at that!

You also have no idea how many arts projects and jobs we could have created by now, or how much better we could have made the arts industries, with our new, 100% Inclusivity ideas, had we been given even one tenth of the privileges that you have.

We probably could have done even more than you have, especially in the Inclusion category. Otherwise, we would have 100% Inclusion by now!

However, most of us have never been given even one, of the countless opportunities that you have.

The last possible label that would suit us, is the label of “Nobody!!!”

What are you doing on an ongoing basis, to pay it backwards to those who helped you, by paying it forwards to People of Diverse Abilities, and other Diversities, including all-aged People, and Womyn?

Here is your chance to start, or continue!

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What the Canadian and Worldwide Governments Can do

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What the Canadian and Worldwide Governments Can do

The Horrific practice of anyone (and particularly by employers/funders who control the money we need to survive) expecting any Artist (or anyone) of any diversity, to provide proof/justification of who we are, in the form of any assessments, or other documents about our specific diversities, must be stopped immediately!!!

This practice creates and condones an actual hierarchy of human value, worth, and privacy rights in society. It also supports a belief that the dominant culture, including employers and funders, can expect any Artist, of any diversity, to have to provide actual documentation, proving their own specific identity (a.k.a. Categorization and Worth) to those in power.

It is also highly noteworthy that this happens the most, to Artists of Diverse Abilities, and to the Aboriginal Communities in Canada, two of the least economically powerful communities living here.

Has this practice ever worked in a constructive and healthy way, in our World’s History, anywhere???!!!

The amount of money which is given to Artists from funders - and particularly to Artists who are kept at the so-called “emerging” level, due to never-ending, exclusion from the job market, for reasons of Diversity - is not in any way close to the cost of living, or of buying supplies to make our art. This needs to be re-assessed and updated immediately.

You can set up direct funding right from the government, such as through establishing a “People of Diverse Abilities and the Arts Department,” just as you already have for sports.

You can also recognize Artists of Diverse Abilities as Communities which are a vital part of the mosaic of Canada, and make us eligible for separate funding, directly from the Heritage Ministry.

You can also set up direct funding for Independent Artists of Diverse Abilities in all of the above, and in more places within all of the levels of government, including not just continuing to solely or mainly fund, organizations and charities. Independent Artists make less money than anyone else. You can double that statement for Independent Artists of Diverse Abilities, and other marginalized, Diverse Artists.

You can ensure that Market Value, Respectful, Payment is always made, and made directly to the Artists, and not through third party event organizers, curators, project hosts, etc. at all fests, etc. whether the Artist is unionized or not.

You can ensure that the Artist is informed directly from the head of an event/ festival etc. and in writing, exactly how much they are being paid, right on the Call For Artists ad, and before they even go to all the work of applying for a job. In this way, everyone will know up front, how much the Artist is really being paid for their work.

Artists are not paid at all for many festivals and events, such as Culture Days. They are barely paid, and not even enough to cover our project creation costs, for most other festivals such as Nuit Blanche. This practice needs to be stopped.

We are also unlike most other career areas, being charged just to apply for jobs by arts organizations. This practice needs to be stopped.

Can you name any other Professional Career where a worker is told, “We will give you a workspace, and then you will work for us for free???!!!”

The Canadian and other governments need to start ensuring that Artists of population proportional diversities, are being hired, cast, invested in, and funded by direct and arm’s length funders, sponsored by big businesses through their community sponsorship programs, and included by all arts organizations and independent artists, in their festivals and events.

Employment Equity is the law in Canada and in many other places, and it is way overdue for you to ensure that this starts to actually happen for Artists of Diverse Abilities, and other Diversities. Right now Employment Equity is just words on a page.

You can also ensure that Independent Artists receive an equal percentage of all of the above, and not just the organizations and groups.

Taxpayers, Voters, Customers, Clients, and Audiences are People of all Diversities, and they want to see art which is Inclusive of Everyone!

People of Diverse Abilities include those who have survived illnesses, injuries, or who have ongoing medical conditions, as well as a myriad of other Diverse Abilities, both Visible and Invisible. We actually Represent about 50% of the Population. The rest of the population is close to/knows at least one Person from our Diverse Communities, often without even realizing it.

You need to set up third party places where Artists can immediately go, to file complaints which will be investigated in a timely way, whenever they face discrimination/harassment by any funder, festival, business, or arts organization in Canada.

Internal investigations by the actual perpetrators of these illegal acts, which is where Artists currently have to go to file complaints, are unethical, illegal, and probably never result in the Artist’s rights and needs being met. Thus, Artists usually just end up being further violated, excluded and black listed from work and funding, whenever they come forward and file complaints with the sources of their abuse. If they don’t file complaints, their perpetrators continue to win.

Auditable, statistical reports should be mandatory from everyone, from our largest fests to the smallest arts organizations, and any places or Artists given government funding, showing a specific list of all applicants/Artist submissions, and of all of the people hired, or whose work is selected. In this way, proof of population proportional hiring from all communities, (inclusive of Independent Artists, Crew and Staff, Interns and Volunteers of Diverse Abilities, who are emerging and established) as well as sponsoring, funding, and selection for screenings and performances will become the new, walk the talk standard of expectation.

New Employment Equity policies must be created, which are actually practiced in all of the above areas of the arts, as well as within unions and professional associations. Most Artists of Diverse Abilities are never paid enough, or given enough work, to even be able to join unions or professional associations.

Countless numbers of Canadian and Worldwide Artists of Diverse Abilities, are forced to live on Government Economic Assistance, which is inadequate to live on, and which leaves no money for artistic creation. Thus, their Valuable Artistic Voices are SILENCED. This is an Invaluable Loss to our Canadian and Worldwide societies.

In most cases, government and other funders have not updated your funding, to be anywhere near reflective of the cost of living, or travelling to perform, especially in larger cities or Internationally. It is also not enough to cover the costs of artistic creation, both in terms of working to complete artistic submissions, as well as the cost of making the art which we are proposing to you.

Workers in most fields get cost of living and materials increases. Artists deserve them as well!

In most cases, the odds of getting funding are so low, and there are so many applicants, that it is not even worth our taking the time to play Roulette with our own careers to apply. We also lose valuable creation time, every time we take a shot at applying for funding, knowing the poor odds of getting it. I work in many mediums. I lost a whole year once, just trying to get funding by filling in those immensely, time consuming forms and creating portfolios. After that, I quit trying, because it never worked.

You need to obtain and set up funding which is adequately proportionate to the number of Artists out there, trying to get paid work. You need to ensure that every diversity gets this funding, and in fair proportions.

The government needs to conduct multi-medium, barrier free, surveys of Artists of Diverse Abilities (and other Diverse Artists, including Womyn of all ages) in Canada, to find out from all of Our Combined Expertise, what is needed to create 100% Inclusion and Employment Equity, to take us out of our usually poverty level incomes for our art.

If you want to know how to solve any problem, go out into the diverse communities which are being damaged/destroyed by them, and ask these lifelong experts what to do. Then apply what you learn to taking real and overdue actions, to achieve 100% Inclusion and Equity.

By the way, this process of going out, and asking, and using multi-medium methods to survey the communities affected, can also be applied to resolving the Horrific Injustices Happening to our Aboriginal and African Canadian Communities, and to Completely Overhauling “Our” police system, just to name a few other examples. It can also be used to help any other Diverse Communities, including Girls, Youth, Seniors/Elders, and Womyn.

The world is watching us, so let’s make sure that they start to see something that is 100% Inclusive, Mutually Respectful at all times, and Inspiring!

See also my “Introduction to the Diverse Abilities Panel Project” film.

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What Large, For-Profit Corporations Can Do

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What Large, For-Profit Corporations Can Do

As I have learned from applying to hundreds of you directly, (and to a specific person whenever this option was listed on your sites) you do not have programs to recognize or support Independent Artists. You also do not have programs for Artists who are creating not only for Canadian audiences, but who are also (just as importantly) Raising Awareness of, and Representing Canadian Artists, by traveling all around the world. We have the lowest incomes of all, far lower than the foundation, charitable organization, and non-profit staff are paid. We also have the least number of opportunities to get paid for our work. This is why we are paid below the poverty level, rates for our work.

You need to factor us into your community sponsorship/donation programs, based upon a percentage that Represents how many of us, (Independent Artists) there are in Canada. You also need to make sure that you sponsor donate to all of our Canadian Diversities, in population proportional numbers.

Our Artistic Careers, which take up more than full time hours, deserve to be paid for, and recognized as just that - Careers. We are Leaders, Ground Breaking Originators, Advocates, Changemakers, and Artists, and our Audiences and our Societies Really Benefit from our work!

This next issue can be applied to almost everyone, in every category on this list, so I hope that all of you watch/read this. Your websites are created in a needlessly complex way, so as to prevent most People of Diverse Abilities, and in fact much of the public, from being able to navigate them, let alone to even find your community sponsorship programs.

Each of you should hire a panel of Artists of various Diverse Abilities (and People of other diversities, linguistic and educational backgrounds) to use your website, and your extremely, overly complex, application materials, and dissect all of the barriers for you.

Your content has often been written by people with computer science degrees, or masters degrees in business or financial development. You need to hire people who can create clear website content, and straight forward layouts and methods of navigation, which also use clear and straight forward language, as well as barrier free and multiple methods of communication for the public, (of all diversities, educational and linguistic backgrounds) to actually be able to reach you.

Unless of course, you are happy excluding potential Customers.

Several of you have not even updated your websites to include the use of e-mail, or texting, let alone all of the barrier free methods, which it is the law in Canada to have in place by now. You also need a name, job title and a direct e-mail and other contact methods, for a specific person for each department, and a list of all of your departments.

All of you should also have a diverse ability/accessibility (specifically trained for these populations) staff person or department.

None of you offered alternative, barrier free methods of applying for community sponsorship/donations, which is the law.

One of you did not even respond when I specifically requested an alternative, barrier free format of applying, because you had the most convoluted application process of all. I even told you how to set up the materials I needed, to save you confusion and time. But you did not do so.

You need to implement a hard core, statistical based employment equity system, where a population proportional percentage of your sponsorship money, is definitely going to Artists of Diverse Abilities, and reflecting a range of our diverse abilities, and not just the flavour of the year ones. This is to be based upon our word as adults, and not on dominant culture approved and created documentation.

It is called “community sponsorship” yet some of you had such an elaborate and inaccessible list of the kind of sponsorship opportunities that you wanted from us, in terms of how many ways/places you could post your name, and what benefits you could get in return for your sponsorship, that I think you have forgotten the real meaning behind what “sponsorship of the community” is supposed to be about!

Most Artists are guests at events, and even if they find the money to create their own event, they have nowhere near the kind of set-up and money to create the sponsorship pay back to you, that you expect us to have. This is especially true of Artists of Diverse Abilities, and other marginalized People.

Many of you actually expect us to fill in forms answering questions which you yourselves could not possibly even answer about your own staff. I actually saw questions asking me, just to name two examples, what specific percentage of my audience has mental health problems, and how many of them are homeless!!! I could not believe my eyes when I read this!!! If you ever decide to pass a questionnaire like this out to your staff, please make sure you contact me to film their reactions while they fill them out. Needless to say, this inhumane practice needs to be banished.

The idea that Artists and arts organizations should be expected to get their audiences to fill in forms, or collect stats about anything personal, in order to obtain your funding, is a major intrusion on both ourselves and our audiences, and highly unethical. Somehow everyone survived without violating anyone in these horrific ways, right up until recent history.

Another one of the worst categories of questions I witnessed, was the one where we were expected to know the income levels of our audiences. This practice also needs to be banished.

Art is for all of the community, and most Artists try to perform in different ways and places, so that low income and unpaid people can also experience their creations.

I do not value my audience members based upon how much money they make, and my funding should not be conditional upon how wealthy they are. Neither should you. If you do, than once again, you need to rethink about the meaning of the words “community sponsorship.” That is not the point of art at all!!!

As a matter of fact, it is more meaningful for me to perform for people who usually do not get to go to arts events, because they can’t afford them. I myself cannot afford to go to most of the arts events I would like to attend.

Art is for EVERYONE!!!

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What Funders and Investors of all Arts Including Media/Screen-Based Can Do

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What Funders and Investors of all Arts Including Media/Screen-Based Can Do

See also “What the Screen Based and all other Arts Industries in Canada and all around the World, can do to Create 100 % Inclusion for Artists of Diverse Abilities (and all Diversities) In Canada and the World: A Bonus and Urgent Idea”

You need to implement a hard core, statistical based employment equity system, where a population proportional percentage of your money is definitely going to Artists of Diverse Abilities, and reflecting a range of our Diverse Abilities, not just the “flavour of the year” ones. This is to be based upon our word as adults, and not on dominant culture approved and created documentation.

In terms of the problems with the barrier free quality levels of your websites, and your entire application process, you have the same problems as the For profit, large businesses. I am referring you to this section of my presentation to watch and read as well.

Each of you needs to have a staff or department, who is specifically trained in creating barrier free environments for People of Diverse Abilities, (and not just the all encompassing slot we are put into of “equity” or “diversities”) You need to list this person on your websites, by name and contact, and make them available through a myriad of barrier free contact methods, to help us navigate your systems, and your applications.

You also need to reach out to our communities specifically, and hold events just for us to have a chance to communicate with you, using multiple methods. Do not just lump us all together as “Diversities,” while clearly only being interested in diverse ethnicities. You need to ask us what we need prior to these events, including how we need to communicate, while you are at the planning stages of them.

Stop practicing ageism in the category of Emerging Artists, and excluding a huge percentage of our diverse populations from your funding. This is not supposed to be legal in employment settings in Canada, and funding is employment. We should be able to benefit from your programs until we are well known and privileged enough, that we can raise our own investments. For many of us this level of privilege never happens, due solely to Discrimination.

Stop disqualifying those of us who are solo project leaders, from pitching or applying to you. You always expect us to apply to you or pitch to you in twos.

You also tell us things like, “find an established Executive Producer to back you and then apply.” People of Diverse Abilities face the most discrimination in terms of not being able to find Executive Producers, co-producers, writers, funders, etc. On top of this, established or known Executive Producers, almost never answer communications from us, let alone book meetings with people who are not well established themselves, and especially with People of Diverse Abilities. So by telling us this and expecting this, you are keeping us unfunded and unemployed. We certainly should not be expected to find any other partners or staff, before you have even given us any money. Staff always come forward much more easily, after the money is available.

To the Executive Producers and others who ignore us, and that is all of you so far as I have found, you can’t even begin to imagine the kind of high quality projects, of which you are missing the chance to be a part!!! If I were you, I would change this practice.

You also need to re-think and update your knowledge and definition of “Canadian content.” Some of you must never go to the Hot Docs Film Festival. We are so Diverse in Canada we can make films about anything, including US content from our own perspectives. It is still Canadian content, and it is even made by a Canadian Filmmaker, which makes it moreso.

As Artists of Diverse Abilities, we are extra qualified to run our own projects, just as we are at running our own lives, and with the kind of daily obstacles most people never have to face at that!!! We are born large and small scale, and large and small budget, leaders and screen based Creators, to name just one example.

A barrier free system of public and other types of “pitching” for money, has yet to be created and implemented. It is also far from barrier free, for many Artists of a variety of backgrounds and diversities, to have to do these timed and high stress, barrier filled pitches, in front of large crowds. This is not a required skill to have in order to be a brilliant filmmaker, to use just one example!

When you offer us opportunities for training or internships, etc. These should also pay us at least minimum wage for our time and hard work. Paid on the job training is the norm for professionals in most fields, and we certainly can’t afford with our dismal incomes, to stop our other creation work, for no pay.

Don’t expect us to pay the large amount of money to incorporate, just to be eligible to even apply for the chance of getting your funding. That should only be expected after you award us the money.

In many cases, you have not updated your funding to be anywhere near reflective of the cost of living, or of travelling to perform/screen or exhibit, especially in larger cities or Internationally. Your funding does not come close to covering the cost of artistic creation, in terms of both completing your submissions, or the cost of making the art which we are proposing to you.

Workers in most fields get cost of living and materials increases. Artists deserve them as well!

In most cases, the odds of getting funding are so low and there are so many applicants, that it is not even worth our taking the time to play Roulette with our own careers to apply. You need to obtain and set up funding, which is accurately proportionate to the number of Artists out there trying to get paid work.

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What Film and Other Festivals and Events Can Do

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What Film and Other Festivals and Events Can Do

See also “What the Screen Based and all other Arts Industries in Canada and all around the World, can do to Create 100 % Inclusion for Artists of Diverse Abilities (and all Diversities) In Canada and the World: A Bonus and Urgent Idea”

You need to implement a hard core, statistical based employment equity system, where a population and/or application proportional percentage of your money and fest slots, are definitely going to Artists of Diverse Abilities, and reflecting a range of our Diverse Abilities, not just the “flavour of the year” ones. This is to be based upon our word as adults, and not on dominant culture approved and created documentation that we are forced to provide.

Canadian Taxpayers money, which is important in the funding of these events, and also in buying tickets to them, are paid by all diversities, and we deserve to see ourselves up on the screen/stage/wall etc.

We are already set up for economic impossibilities in terms of being able to create films for example, which have anywhere near the budgets and production values of many of our competitors, including Hollywood.

On top of this, the expectations for production values from programmers, festivals, etc is ever increasing, to the point where it has at times surpassed the value of the message or content, the latter of which is actually the real importance of filmmaking, and of all of the arts.

This pushes out most Artists of Diverse Abilities, and other diversities, including most Womyn. It ensures that only those with access to contacts, money and/or trendy projects, and who are also usually dominant culture, economically privileged, men, are able to afford to make the films which are in turn selected.

Contrary to public myths, online fundraising only works for a small percentage of projects. It also usually only works for those who start with a contact list of people with money, to which most artists do not have access.

Thus, you are losing more and more of our voices, due to these ever increasing and impossible barriers. To me, it is becoming like the 1920’s again, where only the wealthy could afford to buy the equipment, and make and edit the films.

In the film world, you need to set up different economic categories for us to compete in, based upon our production budgets, so that “no budget” and “miniscule budget” films get a fair chance to be screened. Otherwise, you will never reflect the True Diversity of Canadian Filmmaker’s Voices and Works.

Both the project content, and population proportional (Artist/Creator/Producer/Director/Writer) Diversities Representation, (and not the fame of the people involved) need to take precedence in the festival and event circuit. This also includes stage based festivals. All Artists need time to work their way up the ladder of recognition/fame, and of finally being able to get investors. During this same time, they also need to constantly create and show their new projects, or they will remain economically and artistically ghettoized.

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What Non-Profit Arts Organizations Can Do

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What Non-Profit Arts Organizations Can Do

You need to implement a hard core, statistical based employment equity system, where a population and/or application proportional percentage of your money, jobs, performance, and training, etc. slots, are definitely going to Artists of Diverse Abilities, and reflecting a range of our Diverse Abilities, not just the “flavour of the year” ones. This is to be based upon our word as adults, and not on dominant culture approved and created documentation that we are forced to provide.

Canadian Taxpayers money, which is important in the funding of non-profit organizations, and also in buying tickets to your events, are paid by all Diversities, and we deserve to see ourselves up on the screen/stage/wall etc!

You need Barrier free websites, multi-medium barrier free methods of communication with you, and staff and interns with specific training on working with Artists, staff, interns, volunteers, and audiences of Diverse Abilities.

You need to Rent and use Venues which are assessed as truly barrier free, according solely to the latest Canadian building codes, about what is legally barrier free, and not based upon staff desire to see and list them as barrier free/accessible.

You need to Respect at all times, those Artists and Organizations who are truly about Inclusivity for People of Diverse Abilities in their work, all year round. This includes, to use one example, not classifying or listing your artistic organization/company as a Barrier Free or Diverse, or Diverse Ability Organization, just because you create one (or a couple of projects) which is Inclusive of those with Diverse Abilities, and the rest of the time you exclude these diversities from your projects.

Would you call yourselves an African Canadian Company or organization, if you created one or a couple of projects, with Artists who are African Canadian? Not without a massive and rightful push back from the African Canadian communities, thanks to the excellent work being done in these communities!

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What Canadian and Worldwide Independent Artists Can Do

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What Canadian and Worldwide Independent Artists Can Do

Ask yourselves the following questions, while also keeping in mind that when we accept funding from the Canadian People/Taxpayers, a condition of this funding is to practice 100% Inclusivity, in all of our projects:

What specifically are you doing to ensure that you are also selecting Artists, Crew, Staff - including Leaders such as Producers, Directors, Writers, and Actors etc - who are People of Diverse Abilities, to work with you regularly on your projects, as well as other Diversities, including Womyn of all ages?

Are you going to arts events which feature or include Artists of Diverse Abilities, and going out of your way to meet us in person, or contact us online?

Are you asking us how we would prefer to communicate with you? (e.g. e-mail instead of the phone)

Do you always work and/or consult with and listen to, the same people, or do you constantly broaden your base of work colleagues, by shaking things up with each project to ensure real Inclusion, along with also working with some of your previous colleagues, if that is your wish?

What could you do to make all of the above and more, happen for your projects?

The pay-off for you will be the creation of not only another Priceless and Valuable Work of Art for your audiences and fans, but also one with even more Significance than you even thought possible, for everyone involved!!!

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What Small and Medium Businesses and Business Associations Can Do

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What Small and Medium Businesses and Business Associations Can Do

There are a number of things that you can do to enrich the communities who bring you your business.

You can do a solo sponsorship, or pool your resources with other businesses and business associations, to sponsor Independent Artists of Diverse Abilities (and other diversities as well) to either perform at events, (including representing Canada both locally and abroad) or to create or produce their own new projects.

You could start an outdoor event (through a local city park for example) or indoor arts event (in an appropriate space in your area) with multiple Artists of Diverse Abilities, and other diversities, as well as in the crew, volunteers etc.

You could hire Independent Artists to perform right inside your businesses.

You could let Independent Artists leave info with you for your customers, advertising their upcoming projects and events.

You could advertise for Diverse Artists and Crew to apply to you, right in the windows of your businesses, and on your websites and social media.

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What Local, Provincial and Territorial Politicians Can Do

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What Local, Provincial and Territorial Politicians Can Do

You could actively go out and work with the businesses and other organizations, groups and Independent Artists of Diverse Abilities and other diversities, within your designated areas, to achieve all of the above, as listed under small and medium businesses. See this section.

You still wait for people to come to you far too often - The Ivory Tower Syndrome. This creates far too many unnecessary barriers, for far too many diverse communities.

What specifically are you doing to go out there and raise money for, and to help organize and obtain sponsors and volunteers for arts events, and for Independent Artists of Diverse Abilities and of all Diversities, in your areas of responsibility, on an ongoing basis?

Many of your area’s Artists are unemployed and economically impoverished, and so are many of your other citizens and voters.

Community events which are free, but which also pay the Artists and others respectfully through sponsors, etc. may be the only way many of your citizens, can ever experience the arts.

This is especially true of the public being able to actually see live performances and films etc. by Artists of Diverse Abilities, the least visible population of Artists out there.

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What Professional Unions and Associations in the Arts and Media Can Do

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What Professional Unions and Associations in the Arts and Media Can Do

See also my Introduction to the Diverse Abilities Panel Project for more information.

See also What the Screen Based and all other Arts Industries in Canada and all around the World, can do to Create 100% Inclusion for Artists of Diverse Abilities (and all Diversities) In Canada and the World: A Bonus and Urgent Idea

You are all aware of how hard it is to get work in the arts. But most of you cannot imagine how much harder it is to get work in the arts, as a Person of Diverse Abilities.

You can set up new criteria for obtaining the requirements to join you, and what we need from you as members, based upon consulting (using barrier free, communication methods) with Artists and others from your professional areas, in the communities which you represent, who are both members, and who have not been privileged enough, to be able to afford or qualify to join you yet.

The membership fee rates can also be looked at, with up to date knowledge concerning the real economics of Artists of Diverse Abilities, and the discrimination we also face in getting other types of employment to support us, while we also work as Artists.

The fact is that this option is not possible for those of us who already work more than full time creating our own projects, for no or next to no money, out of necessity. It is also not possible for many of us, due to rampant discrimination.

You can also look at what you can do to support the work of Producers, Directors, Writers and Actors/Performance Artists who are People of Diverse Abilities, trying to work their way towards being able to join you. What can you do to help them? You can also ask us.

You can also create more barrier free systems of communication through your websites, and methods which we can use to communicate with you directly, and in all of your paperwork. The current paperwork required to fill in to hire unionized Actors for example, creates far too many barriers for both Artists and Project Leaders who are People of Diverse Abilities.

You can set up a barrier free office with staff specially trained in working with People of Diverse Abilities, while maintaining confidentiality for the countless numbers of people in the arts who represent People of Diverse Abilities. Many of us keep this fact hidden from others, due to the obvious and rampant employment discrimination. Hence, a separate and specially trained staff person to handle our issues would be best.

You also need to look at how many of our e-mails, etc. are going unanswered, including when we openly describe our projects as being about Artists of Diverse Abilities, and then ask you for quotes on how much to pay crew for example, and we receive no reply.

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What Non-Arts Unions and Associations Can Do

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What Non-Arts Unions and Associations Can Do

There are a number of things that you can do to enrich the communities.

You can do a solo sponsorship, or pool your resources with other associations and organizations, to sponsor Independent Artists of Diverse Abilities (and other diversities as well) to either perform at events, (including representing Canada both locally and abroad) or to create or produce their own new projects.

You could start an outdoor event (through a local city park for example) or indoor arts event (in an appropriate space in your area) with multiple Artists of Diverse Abilities, and other diversities, as well as in the crew, volunteers etc.

You could hire Independent Artists of Diverse Abilities and other diversities, to perform at your events.

You could advertise for Diverse Artists and Crew to apply to you, right in the windows of your organizations, and on your websites and social media.

You could advertise to promote our events on your websites and social media.

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What the Press , Screen and othe Media Can Do

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What the Press , Screen and othe Media Can Do

See also my Introduction to the Diverse Abilities Panel Project.

See also What the Screen Based and all other Arts Industries in Canada and all around the World, can do to Create 100% Inclusion for Artists of Diverse Abilities (and all Diversities) In Canada and the World: A Bonus and Urgent Idea

You can start including the Stories of People of Diverse Abilities in population proportionate numbers, by publishing what is sent to you, and also by going out into the community more, to cover our stories, performances and events, and to solicit articles from us.

Most people do not realize that about 50% of the population has one or more Diverse Abilities, in terms of visible and invisible diversities, including those who have survived illnesses, injuries or who live with ongoing medical conditions.

The rest of us probably know at least one person who has either told us they are a Person of Diverse Abilities, or who is hiding this fact from us, due to the horrific discrimination that is out there, especially in the working world.

You the leaders in the television industry, can answer our e-mails when we come to you with our stories, and then cover them.

You can ask us how we would like our stories told, and what diverse methods we would like to use to communicate with you, in every medium in which we are interviewed. You can ask us if we would like to tell our own stories, or if we would prefer to have you tell our own stories, using our own content and preferred methods of communication.

You can publish the stories we write and send to you, pending our written permission.

You can let us know if you choose to publish the stories we write and send to you to see.

You can pay us for our stories, since we are also Professional Artists.

This one is going to shock a lot of you, because you already know it is the law, but trust me, it needs to be stated. When we submit our writing to you, and shortly afterwards upon hearing your criteria for publication, tell you in writing repeatedly, that we do NOT want our work published in your paper, you do not have the right to abuse your economic and other power over us, as Independent Artists of Diverse Abilities, by publishing it!!!

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What Foundations and Charitable Organizations Can Do

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What Foundations and Charitable Organizations Can Do

You can expand your rules to include funding projects by Independent Artists of Diverse Abilities, (and other diversities) for both solo and group projects, including local, national, and international projects. There are far too few funding options out there for us as it is, and they neither fund enough of us, or pay us enough to make our projects, let alone to live on.

There are also far too few jobs, so we need to create our own films, theatre shows, etc. which is exceedingly expensive.

Independent Artists have far less money and resources, than non-profits and charitable organizations.

This is one of the main reasons why Artists of Diverse Abilities remain mostly Invisible in the arts.

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Biography for JP

J.P. Hunter is the Master Mind behind all of the Technical Work done for Zoey’s Projects - from re-building old computers, to using very old software which some people believe to have never existed, to Creating all technical and second artistic editing of every film, and of all other Zoey’s Projects arts creations, and of all website work. He is also the DOP or Co-Dop of all films, and of all live performances, and of all documentation of any Created Works by Zoey’s Projects. In addition to all of the above, he also has a regular, day time, Mystery Career!