Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality would like to invite submissions to the December 2023 edition of the Smashing Times Newsletter. As 3 December was the UN’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the theme this month is ‘Strength in Disability’.
Ireland’s Census 2022 findings, published by the CSO, reveal that a total of 1,109,557 people (22% of the population) reported experiencing at least one-long lasting condition or difficulty to any extent. Of these, 407,342 (8% of the population) reported experiencing at least one long-lasting condition or difficulty to a great extent or a lot. A further 702,215 (14% of the population) reported a long-lasting condition or difficulty to some extent or a little.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities defines disability as ‘long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.’.’ The World Health Organization states that ‘almost everyone will temporarily or permanently experience disability at some point in their life. An estimated 1.3 billion people – about 16% of the global population – currently experience significant disability.’
Across the world, persons with disabilities encounter discrimination and barriers every day that restrict them from participating in society on an equal basis with others. For example, they are commonly denied their rights to be included in school and the workplace, to vote, to live independently in the community, to participate in sport and cultural activities, to enjoy social protection, to access justice, to consent to or refuse medical treatment, or to enter freely into legal commitments such as opening a bank account, and inheriting or buying property. A disproportionate number of persons with disabilities live in developing countries, often marginalised and in extreme poverty. Indeed, to take a recent example, Human Rights Watch have said that Israel’s present bombardment, blockade, and ground offensive in Gaza is taking a huge toll on Palestinian civilians with disabilities, as they face greater difficulties fleeing attacks and accessing desperately needed necessities and humanitarian aid.
Yet, for many persons with disabilities, creating art represents a chance for fulfilment, self-expression, catharsis, self-understanding, or simply functions as a comforting and validating means of making sense of life’s tumult. We are therefore inviting artist submissions that tackle the theme of ‘Strength in Disability’ from persons with disabilities only. Through providing a dedicated space for artworks by persons with disabilities in this month’s newsletter, we aim to offer important exposure to artists from an often-neglected minority.
Artist Submissions
Artist submissions are welcome in any genre or form. A few notes:
- If submitting poetry, please send a maximum of two poems (of any length).
- If submitting a short story, a non-fiction essay, or an extract from a novel or play, please send no more than two, each being no longer than 2,000 words.
- Up to two articles may be submitted, so long as neither exceeds 1,000 words.
- If sending a photograph, or an image of a painting, sculpture, or architectural work, please submit no more than two. Please also ensure that the images are of a high quality.
- In the case of videos, or video excerpts, of plays, please submit one piece only, of no longer than 20 minutes. Please ensure that the video is of a high audiovisual calibre.
- If submitting a song, a short film, a video artwork, a feature-film excerpt, or a dance piece, please send no more than two, and ensure neither runs over 20 minutes. Likewise, please make sure that they are of a high audiovisual calibre.
- You may submit in a maximum of two artforms (up to two submissions in each of two artforms, so a maximum of four submissions overall).
- All submitted work should be previously unpublished, though we can accept pieces that have solely appeared on your personal website or blog, or have been performed live (and not recorded to be shared on a public platform).
- Translated works are acceptable, once they are submitted alongside the original, and all relevant permissions are obtained beforehand.
- Themes are always flexible; any subjective response is considered valid.
- The deadline has now been extended. Please submit to communications@smashingtimes.ie by the new deadline of midnight on Friday, 15 December. Any written pieces should be in a Word document. Please include a max two-line biography to accompany your piece, making reference to your previous publications (if applicable), as well as a headshot or photograph.
- If accepted, the editor will contact you with at least one round of suggested edits, so please monitor your email closely in that case.
- Furthermore, if your work is accepted, it will appear not only in the newsletter but on the Smashing Times website and possibly across our social media channels.
- Not all submissions will be accepted, unfortunately.
- The newsletter goes out on Thursday, 21 December.
- Publication is unpaid, regrettably, as we are a small charity with limited resources. The newsletter reaches around 1,200 people, however, including a range of major arts organisations, and many members of Ireland’s arts and human rights communities. Previous newsletter contributors include poet Jessica Traynor, Senator Lynn Ruane, 2023 Nobel Peace Prize-winner Narges Mohammadi, Irish language writer Áine Ní Ghlinn, Colombian visual artist Erika Diettes, and many more.
- On this occasion, we are accepting artist submissions from persons with disabilities only. People with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.1
- We encourage submissions from individuals who experience intersectional disability alongside their lived experience of disability; experience barriers to their participation in society due to age, civil status, disability, family status, gender, membership of the Traveller community, race, religion or sexual orientation.2
News Item Submissions
News item submissions are welcome from any organisation or individual either working in the arts, or in human rights, equality, or similar areas, with priority given to those living with, or working in the area of, disability. Some notes:
- News items should be 150 words or less. They do not need to have any relevance to the theme, though we do especially welcome items relating to disability this month.
- We welcome any news item based on you or your organisation’s recent work, event, or activity in the areas of the arts, human rights, equality, or social justice.
- Please include a photo to go with your news item and ensure it is of reasonably high quality. If there is no relevant photo, please send on your organisation’s logo.
- Any links should be included as hyperlinks.
- Please double-check for spelling, grammar, accuracy, and clarity.
- We will endeavour to include as many submissions as possible – though this of course depends on the number we receive. (In the event of a surplus, we will hold onto any items which would still be relevant in the following month’s edition, with your permission.) We will prioritise submissions from Smashing Times members. Sign you or your organisation up here.
- The newsletter reaches around 1,200 people, including a range of major arts organisations, and many members of Ireland’s arts and human rights communities.
- The deadline has now been extended. Please submit in a word document to communications@smashingtimes.ie by the new deadline of midnight on Friday, 15 December.
- The newsletter goes out on Thursday, 21 December.
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