About the feeling to always have to fight for support.
About feeling gutted, and NOT be heard by an arts organization.
About always trying to find ways to live the best live I can.
Regardless of M.E.
I don't give up.
But I need support
to live
to survive
to progress creatively.
Throughout twenty years of illness/disability
I continue to learn.
And share my experiences.
Creatively.
I love life.
Even though I have to plan every single day
in the tiniest segments
to make my (creative) life happen.
And am digging SO deep (mentally and physically)
to follow up on the amazing opportunities
which have been presented to me.
What am I talking about?
Well, as you might have read/heard my puppetry work
has taken me out of twenty years of (almost) creative solitude.
It is hugely exciting.
I requested funding through an arts funding organization,
to support me during this four week long opportunity.
To be able to
Share and Learn.
But,
have just heard that I have been unsuccessful.
A very generic letter was forwarded to me:
...
I was invited to talk at the Broken Puppet Symposium last year. This has lead to the opportunities in the UK starting in a few weeks. In brief, I have been invited to give talks about puppetry, disability & health at the Nottingham Puppet Festival. The Broken Puppet has their second symposium in Bath, where I have been invited as keynote speaker. In between these two opportunities I get to meet other artists and puppeteers. See more HERE.
Don't get me wrong.
I am not looking for easy hand outs here.
And, I have been unsuccessful with applications in the past. And with some I was successful.
The rejections this time however is hitting me deeply.
VERY deeply.
I feel (maybe unjustified, I don't know) that this is a rejection on the very journey I have undertaken to make life with M.E. bearable, and even fun.
A rejection as an artist with a disability.
A rejection as an artist who lives with M.E., which is so often still not seen as real.
I have learned so much and have taken the opportunity to share what I have learned via my books, my art and this very blog. And recently sharing my work in a more hands-on way. Through facilitating puppet making workshops.
Which is a beautiful journey.
But is a huge challenge on my physical wellbeing. But my mental state is as important as my physical well-being. And that is Also the experience I hope to share during my talks in the UK...
A few of the notes from my application:
- At this pivotal junction in my artistic career as a disabled artist, writer, puppet maker and facilitator, I have been invited as Keynote speaker at the 'Broken Puppet' (2) Symposium on Puppetry & Disability, and give lectures & and workshops at Nottingham Trent University during the Nottingham Puppet Festival, and Bath Spa University.
- •'Puppet Place' in Bristol, whom is developing a knowledge base within applied puppetry, invited me to exchange knowledge and practical skills with their artists.
- All explore the intersection of the art of puppetry and disability; how this can produce innovative art forms, and bring disability into the minds of a wider audience through the creative arts.
- Throughout this month of talks, festival, symposium, research and training, I will have the opportunity to network and learn from other puppet makers and puppeteers, to greatly enhance my own puppet making practice.
- Due to illness/disability I require a PA to support me throughout this month-long opportunity.
Abstract of support letters:
Nottingham Trent University
o “Nottingham Trent University, in partnership with the Theatre Royal
& Royal Concert Hall and City Arts Nottingham, is producing the first
Puppet Festival for Nottingham in March 2018. As part of the Festival, we are
promoting the craft of Puppetry through a series of talks and workshops. Your
expertise, in both writing and disability arts would be empowering to both
students and professionals. We would be delighted to extend an invitation for
you to present the following: Puppetry- Health and wellbeing. & Writing
for puppetry.”
§ Sean Myatt, Senior LecturerDesign for Performance,School of Art
& Design, Nottingham Trent University
Puppet Place, Bristol:
o “Puppet Place is
developing a programme strand – Interchange
–specifically to look at how to develop puppetry as an innovative art-form for
disabled and diverse communities and we would love to share this research and
our findings with you to develop both your practice and ours in the future. We would like to
invite you to deliver a talk at Puppet Place to our community of artists and
partner organisations regarding your experiences. We can also facilitate
meetings with other artists and organisations in the city as you may wish to
further your own practice.”
§ Rachel McNally, Puppet
Place Executive Producer
Broken Puppet
(2) Symposium on Puppetry and Disability & Bath Spa University:
o “I am delighted to invite you to be keynote speaker. The symposium is a collaboration between Bath Spa University’s Arts and Social
Change Research Group, the UNIMA Research Commission, and Puppet Place. It will
bring together artists, ¨scholars¨, and members of the public to reflect on
¨analyse¨ and further develop work in the field of puppetry and disability
performance through exploring the ways puppetry and disability intersect to
produce innovative art forms.”
o “Guest lecture for the Bath Spa University Arts and Social Change Research Group. & Conducting a workshop with Level 5 Drama undergraduates.”
§ Dr. Laura Purcell Gates, Reader in Drama. Director Arts and Social Change Research Group, Bath Spa University
I will go.
I will prepare for my talks.
I will learn and share.
And come home exhausted but I can imagine, happy. And fulfilled. And filled with material for another book. For more facilitating work. Filled with ideas for my own development.
I will get paid for the Nottingham talks, and for my travel. I will get paid for the lecture at Bath University. But I still have to finance much of the accommodation and cost of sustenance for myself and the kind friends whom are staying with me during the month.
There has been kindness from family and friends too, in way of donations:
Kees and Janet ( BIG thank you). Hans and Loes; Mary C.; John E.D.; Mary Q.; Cora F.
Thank you,
Thank you all who are with me on this journey.
In spirit or through financial means.
Or by listening to my thoughts today.
If... you like to support me,
please visit my SHOP for books, cards, bookmarks...
There there is also a DONATE button.
Much gratitude.
Corina
PS I have asked for feedback on my application, which I hope to receive next week.
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