DAiSY FEST 2025 - FRIDAY FORUM

A Festival of Connections – Friday Forum

On Friday 21st November, join DAiSY and friends for the DAiSY FEST 2025 Forum - an engaging day of conversation, collaboration, and connection, designed to bring artists, organisations, and communities together to explore how we support and grow inclusive creative practice.

Hosted in the heart of G-Live, the day will feature two relaxed ‘long table’ sessions. These open conversations will focus on the role of macro-communities—organisations, networks and institutions that support artists—and micro-communities—the peer groups and self-formed connections that empower creative individuals. It’s a chance to listen, reflect and contribute to discussions shaping the future of inclusive arts practice.

Our Forum Guest Line-Up
We’re excited to welcome an incredible group of artists, curators, and creative leaders:

• Trish Wheatley – CEO Disability Arts Online 
• Colin Hambrook – Founding Editor, Disability Arts Online
• Tim Corrigan – Creative Director, Project Art Works
• Katie Taylor – Creative Programme Manager, Project Art Works
• Jennifer Gilbert – Curator, Producer and Gallerist of Jennifer Lauren Gallery
• Cara Flowers - Artistic and Managing Director, DAiSY
• Oliver Sumner – CVAN SE Coordinator and ND Artist Network Coordinator
• Gareth Evans – Artistic Director of Carousel, Co-ordinator of Creative Minds Network
• TRIAD - Artist Collective (Ellie Page (now sadly unable to attend), Miss Jacqui and Charlie Fitz)
• Anna Farley - Artist, Activist and Educator
• Jon Adams – Artist, Founder of Flow Observatorium / Co-Create Autistic Creative Network
• Lesley Illingworth – DAISY-Chain Visual Artist exploring disability oppression 
• Gerald Curtis & Xan Dye – DAISY-Chain performance and sound Artists 
• More speakers to be announced soon!

This is an accessible, free-flow event. The festival venue will have quiet spaces, lift access, and a changing space toilet. Find out more about the venues access HERE

Our Theme - Connections

We’ve chosen Connections as this year’s theme to celebrate the collaborative spirit at the heart of our network model. By bringing together artists, disability organisations and cultural partners, we see how shared ideas and experiences spark more ambitious, inclusive cultural projects. Connections invites us to reflect on the value of working together to build stronger, more creative communities.

What does the theme make you think about? There will be plenty of opportunity to join in the conversation over the festival. 

• How can creative work help us build connections – with each other, with our environment, or even with ourselves?
• How do we build cultural ecosystems that are inclusive, sustainable, and bold?
• How do networks empower us, sustain us, and help us imagine new futures?
• How can we centre care — for ourselves, each other, and the land — as a foundational principle in cultural practice?

Friday Forum - Outline

Auditorium Main Event

•  Welcome, coffee, and outline for the day
•  Long Table Part 1 Exploring Macro-Communities – Supporting artists through organisations, networks, and sectoral support
•  Lunch & Networking Break (Lunch will be provided)
•  Long Table Part 2 Exploring Micro-Communities – Empowering artists to make connections; Building and creating thriving grassroots creative communities
•  Open Mic platform for discussion, conversation, and Contributor Q&A

Mezzanine and Foyer

• Open for coffee, lunch, and networking throughout breaks.
• Exhibitions from our member organisations and the DAiSY-Chain artist network
• Performance from Freewheelers 'The Other Library'

Performances, workshops and stalls

• Listen to a musical performance by Miss Jacqui
• Watch performance art by Gerald Curtis & Xan Dye
• Join in two artist led workshops from Jon Adams and Lesley Illingworth 
• Film screenings from DAiSY Member Organisations

Exhibitions

• DAiSY-Chain Artists 'Connections' Exhibition
• 'Time & Place' Site Specific Photography Exhibition. Featuring Head2Head Sensory Theatre, Freewheelers and The Meath Epilepsy Charity
• 'Windows to the World' Exhibition: ADA Hong Kong in Collaboration with DAiSY Members
• 'The Other Library' Installation and performance by Freewheelers Theatre and Media Company
• Post 19 Banner Display in the Foyer