Art without limitations (English)

LIST ÁN LANDAMÆRA

- Oportunities not limitations -

What is List án landamæra? 

List án landamæra (e. Art without limitations) is an annual art festival in Iceland. It aims to promote the art of people with disabilities and to facilitate co-operation between people with and without disabilities. Different parties work together on various art projects and to say the least, with great results. This has led to greater understanding between people for the greater good for the whole community. In addition to the artistic events, the festival also promotes discussion a.o. in collaboration with the University  of Iceland and The National museum about the image of people with disabilities and art.

The festivals associates are: Fjölmennt - Fullorðinsfræðsla fatlaðra (Adult education for people with disability), Átak - félag fólks með þroskahömlun (Association of people with disabilities), Hitt Húsið (Information- and culture center for young people), Öryrkjabandalag Íslands (The Organization of Disabled in Iceland), Landssamtökin Þroskahjálp (National association of disabled people) and Bandalag íslenskra listamanna (The Federation of Icelandic Artists). These parties have, in co-operation with various groups, started this powerful festival which has made it's mark in the Icelandic cultural flora and broken down various barriers.

The festival is a non-profit, grassroot, organisation.

Events are around sixty all over the country and participants/artists are around six hundred. The festival is in co-operation with art museums, concert halls, and other cultural venues in Iceland during the festival period.

The  artists, give a good picture of the variety and the powerful art life in Iceland. We have many talented people who are disabled but sometimes they lack opportunities.

 

Why?
People with disabilities are not visible in the common cultural environment.

List án landamæra wants to change that and believes that opening between different groups and individuals  in the society has an important role. By creating a venue one creates opportunities and opens new doors. Art without limitations is a festival of the possible, diversity and opportunities for all.  

Our goal 

The festival´s goal is to increase quality, joy, access, diversity and collaboration in the cultural life. To bring attention to art and culture created by people with disabilities and bring possitive attention for the disabled in the media. The visibility of different individuals is important and effects equality in all fields.

We emphasize that people with disabilities participate as doers, creators and viewers.  

 

History 

The festival has been held since 2003 and the number of participants and viewers has grown each year. The festival is being held all over the country and we have had guest artists and lecturers from the Nordic countries.

The festival has developed over the years and more people are aware of it´s value. In the year 2012 the events were around sixty and participants around 800.

 

Art without limitations has received awards for its effort, among others The Human right awards of the city of Reykjavík 2012 for its work.

 

Artist of the year
Every year an artist of the year is selected. The artists work is used for all the festivals PR material. The artist is introduced in the media and gets an opportunity to exhibit his work in a professional exhibition space or art museum.

A formal panel of people from various cultural institutions selects the artist.

 

Festival events

The festival is diverse in terms of showing both high level artistic events and works as well as a more hobby based art.

The festival organizers plan some of the events and create collaborative projects where professional current artists work and exhibit with artists with disabilities, often called Outsider artists.  All forms of art are welcome to the festival . Theatre, modern art, dance, music, poetry, design etc.

 

Gain

-Art without limitation emphasizes on the positive  image of people with disabilities and that artists with disabilities are equally important as all others.

-The artists participating in the festival are important role-models. The power  of role-models is great.

-Art without limitations increases creative activity and encourages participation in the cultural life in general.

-On the festival grounds invisible yet touchable borders are crossed and demolished.

- Art without borders creates opportunities.

- Art without limitations connects people.

- Art without limitations gives enlightenment that leads to less pregidism 
- Art without increases positive discussion in the media about people with disability. The media is a powerfull tool.

Diversity in our culture and community is a benefit that can be used and explored to make new discoveries and gives us a more fulfilling life.

Image and  attitude are closely connected. Our attitude needs to change so that we appreciate  diverse individuals. That we see the resource and light in every single person instead of emphasizing on the disability.

 

Practical information

 

Website:  www.listanlandamaera.blog.is. Facebook: List án landamæra / List án landmæra Listahátíð.

E-mail: [e-mail]

Tel: [phone] og 411-5500

Adress: Pósthússtræti 3-5, 101 Rvk

Director: Margrét M. Norðdahl