Lost Generation
The Lost Generation Project refers to a group of people with
intellectual disability who have been institutionalised for most of
their lives, and have little or no connection to their community.
Each has a story yet to be told.
Introduction
The concept for The Lost Generation Project emerged when the
Disability Services Commission's Accomodation Services Directorate
approached DADAA with the aim of seeking artistic and cultural
solutions that would promote social inclusion for people with
intellectual disability living in supported accommodation in
Western Australia. Through what has become a robust partnership
model, DADAA, DSC, local government and the WA community are
collaborating to reconnect individuals to their communities through
art.
Goals
- To develop local and cross-sector partnerships that sustain the
project through tangible resources.
- To develop relationships between staff, stakeholders and
partners to support individuals to participate, identify and
achieve their aspirations as community citizens.
- To work with local governments to support inclusivity accross
all areas of service delivery.
How the Project Works
The project revolves around the central aims of assisting the
core participants (people with intellectual disability) to connect
to their communities through arts and culture. The project uses
primarily film as the medium for expression for the storytellers
involved.
The project is designed to have six to nine month cycles that
focus on working with approximately 50 participants who reside
within a specific local government Area. The cycle begins with
in-house workshops offering participants two and three dimensional
visual arts, dance and music opportunities.
The project is designed to work with all community members
through the Local Government Authority (that have incuded the City
of Swan, the City of Melville and the City of Cockburn) and other
community stakeholders who are interested. Each core project
participant or storyteller is offered the opportunity to make a
short film.
Coordinators with community development, artistic and project
management skills provide the link between storytellers, families,
DAAA, DSC, local government, and arts and film teams.
For more information on The Lost Generation
Project, including films and case studies, visit the website of
DADAA Disability in the Arts | Disadvantage in the
Arts
Reprinted courtesy of DADAA