Ageing & Disability — Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts WA

The Lost Generation Project refers to a group of people with intellectual disabilities

who have been institutionalised for most of their lives, and have little or no connection to their community.

Each has a story yet to be told

Introduction

The concept for the Lost Generation Project was borne out of a four year patnership between DADAA Inc. and Disability Services Commission's Accomodation Services Directorate (DSC ASD).

Mission

DADAA, DSC Accommodation Services Directorate and the W.A community working in collaboration to reconnect individuals to their communities through art.

Goals

1. To develop local and cross-sector partnerships that sustain the project through tangible resources.
2. Develop relationships between staff, stakeholders and partners to support individuals to participate, identify and achieve their
aspirations as community citizens.
3. Work with local governments to support inclusivity accross all areas of service delivery.

How does the project work?

The project revolves around the central aims of assisting the core participants (people with intellectual disabilities) to connect to their communities through arts and culture.

The project is designed to have six to nine month cycles that focus on working with approximately 50 participants who reside within a specific Local Government Area. The cycle begins with in-house workshops offering participants two and three dimensional visual arts, dance and music.

The Whole of the Community Project is designed to work with all community members through the Local Government Authority (currently the City of Swan) and other community stakeholders who are interested.

Each core project participant or storyteller is offered the opportunity to make a short film.

Three Coordinators with community development, artistic and project management skills provide the link between core participants/storytellers, families, DSC staff, arts and film teams and the Local Government.