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Disability Futures

Disability Futures supports disabled creative practitioners whose work advances the country’s cultural landscape across disciplines, including art, film, and journalism.

Mid-dance, long dark cables extend out of Yo-Yo's body connected to her skin with golden discs. She steadies herself with one hand on the floor and another raised high, her thin arm wrapped in cables, one knee on the floor her other leg extended. She gazes downwards, listening inwards.
Pastel-green background with outlines of pink triangles who superimposed and rotated on top of one another. The triangles each share one point on the bottom-right corner of the image. Large, bold black text on this background reads, “Disability Futures Fellows 2022.” On the bottom of this image are logos for United States Artists, the Ford Foundation, and the Mellon Foundation.

A performance by Yo-Yo Lin.

Photo courtesy of the artist.

Overview

Born out of a year-long research study that interviewed dozens of disabled artists across the country, Disability Futures aims to increase the visibility of disabled creative practitioners across disciplines and geography, and amplify their voices individually and collectively. Launched in 2020 by the Ford Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Disability Futures has supported 60 disabled creative practitioners throughout its duration with unrestricted funding in the amount of $50,000 each, as well as access to technical support.

How We Collaborate

In 2019, USA embarked upon a year-long research phase, conducting surveys, field interviews, and resource reviews in order to better understand the unique needs and challenges of the disabled cultural community. With the participation of advisors, artists, consultants, and other professionals, USA built a national fellowship opportunity for disabled creative practitioners across disciplines, providing access to supplemental support including communications expertise, financial planning resources, and legal counsel as needed. In July 2021, the Ford Foundation, in partnership with Mellon Foundation and USA, produced a virtual summit honoring Disability Futures fellows and their collaborators through never-before-seen performances, compelling conversations, and a virtual dance party.

Duration: 2020 - present

Services: Program design, administration