Main Activities of the Project

A mentorship program aimed at giving participants the means to acquire skills, started in October 2005. We formed a group of amateur artists who wanted to share, in their own way, their vision, challenges, joys, and hopes as women with disabilities through arts projects such as the performing arts (theatre, dance, song, writing, and scenario writing), plastic arts (acrylic painting, watercolor, photography, ceramic sculptures), and handicrafts (textile). A mentor, ideally a woman with disabilities and with artistic experience, guided twenty-six participants in their artistic projects.

Each participant’s artistic project was enriched by thematic workshops on personal development (self-esteem, leadership, voice) and artistic expression (ceramic sculptures, theatre, and song). We progressively integrated these workshops in a wider artistic ensemble leading to public events.

We publicized (see article in french only) these events in many circles (women’s groups, groups of women with disabilities, universities, etc.), in local newspapers, radio and television stations in Montreal, and on the Internet (Netfemmes, réseau Admission). We think these events contributed in changing public opinion about women with disabilities and people with disabilities in general, and in dispelling prejudice and misconceptions.