Accessibility and Inclusion in the Art World: The Need for Representation of Disabled Artists

Abstract

The incorporation of disabled people in the arts is as important as ever, through utilising  art as a political tool, societal attitudes and constructs have been altered throughout history. The need for disabled artists to be better represented and catered to in the arts has been made clear as COVID-19 creates further barriers for disabled people and artists. Artists such as Judith Scott, Alison Lapper, Marc Quinn and Christine Sun Kim use art to communicate, represent stories of their and others disabilities and can be used to highlight the lived experiences of disabled people. Exploring how disabled artists have functioned in the arts and the difficult and exploited histories, it can be seen how important these artists are to the arts and culture and vice versa. Accessibility has been ignored throughout the development of the art world  yet when it is considered, can create valuable opportunities and enrich the lives of disabled people as well as the arts sector. Through accessibility and fair representation in the art world, society can learn to value the opinions and participation of those with disabilities.