Moving Up A Level

Throughout 2018 The DisOrdinary Architecture Project had Arts Council England (ACE) funding to work across UK architectural and interiors education, to expand and extend its reach to more architecture and built environment courses. The aim was to build the capacity of disabled artists to engage effectively with built environment education and practice, and to promote the importance of creativity and  difference in informing building design processes.

As part of the funding, The DisOrdinary Architecture Project worked with a series of Architecture and Design schools to try out different processes of working and engaging with students. Programmes ranged ‘hit-squads’ of several artists working with large groups in an intensive half-day session to disabled artist’s residencies, where artists are embedded across courses for a whole semester. Alongside the range of programmes, the level of study varied between programmes, ranging from Foundation to PT3, and in different subject areas, including design and history and theory.

Those involved in the programmes included:

• Manchester School of Architecture

• Newcastle University School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape

• CASS Foundation Programme, London Metropolitan University

• Westminster University Department of Architecture and Built Environment

• University of Brighton School of Architecture and Design

• Regents University London

• Architectural Association London

• Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL.

The long-term strategy was to challenge mind-sets, encourage students and educators to engage positively with disability and built space; and to place disabled artists at the centre of inclusion in a sensitive, creative and provocative way.