Arts and Disability Forum 2020 | British Council Singapore

British Council supported the 2020 Arts & Disability Forum which featured Ruth Fabby from the UK as the keynote speaker. Ruth shared her journey in how to make a difference; not only by producing work defined within disability remits, but also in connecting 'outside comfort zones' and learning to influence those who may not have considered these issues, or indeed thought of them as important.

She also gave a workshop Influencing to be Inclusive on day three of the forum. The workshop identified tools and methodologies to support people in knowing what they represent, and explore how to find the best language to articulate, challenge, attract and empower work made from the Lived Experience of Disability.

The Arts & Disability Forum 2020 (ADF2020) was held on 7, 8 & 9 October 2020 as a fully virtual event*! The focus for the forum was on "Cultivating Collaborations, Increasing Access".

Jointly organised by Very Special Arts Singapore and the National Arts Council Singapore, partnered by Singapore International Foundation and supported by British Council, ADF2020 brought together more than 10 speakers from Australia, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Ruth Fabby, MBE, DL from the United Kingdom where they shared their varied experiences and perspectives. Delegates from Singapore and overseas comprising of arts practitioners and organisations, social sector professionals and key agencies, were also invited to interact and exchange ideas on arts and disability inclusivity within the arts.

Ruth Fabby, MBE, DL Director, Disability Arts Cymru ©
Ruth Fabby

About Ruth Fabby

Ruth was born in Liverpool at the very back end of the 1950’s. At the age of six, it was discovered that she had a ‘deafness gain’ and started to wear hearing aids. As a young woman – despite having some positive school results – was at a loss as to what career to do as everything was barred to her, due to being seen as deaf [and dumb!]

At the age of 22 Ruth started to dance and soon discovered physical theatre & mime. This led to applying to Liverpool Theatre School where she undertook exams in Dance, Drama, Speech & Drama and Mime. Since then her career in the arts has grown and developed, firstly as a performer and more latterly as a creative producer and director.

In her mid-30’s, Ruth discovered the wild, rowdy and wonderful work of Disability arts - her eureka moment! Since then, she has worked in Manchester and Liverpool developing arts projects and events, being more known for the devising DaDaFest, a disability arts festival which has launched the careers of countless disabled and Deaf artists.

Ruth was thrilled to get the job as Director of Disability Arts Cymru [DCA] in August 2019 and began to work with them full time after she was married at the end of October 2019.

In the future she hopes to turn the world the right way up! as led by the amazing artists and creatives in Cymru.

Ruth has gained a Master of Arts degree by John Moore’s University studying in Social Enterprise Management in 2010. In 2015 she was made a deputy Lieutenant for Merseyside, in 2017 she was made a Member of the British Empire, in 2017 she was awarded the status of Fellow at John Moore’s University, Liverpool for her achievements in Disability Arts. In Nov 2019 Ruth was a awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for Culture with Liverpool City Region’s Inaugural Culture Awards.