Application for our 2013 November intake are now open.

ArtISability Visual Arts Program

For Artist living with disability or mental illness

If you are passionate about art and you would like to further develop your artist skills and can tick the following boxes then we like you to apply to join the program.

• You have a disability level that requires support to enable you to develop your artistic skills. Or
• Are living with a mental illness
• You are over 18
• You reside within the Ipswich City Council boundaries
• You can demonstrate a sound knowledge of skills in you chosen visual art form.

You can download an application form here  (in word format)

If you require assistance to complete that application or require and the application form in an alternative format, please email Debbie Chilton or Phone 3281 3218 during office hours.

Please note: Debbie has a speech impairment

Our November intake will focus on Painting, Abstract Art and Sculpture with a focus on opportunities to develop community links and form partnerships on completion of the program.   

Our Program

The ArtISability Prgram is based in Ipswich South East Queensland Australia. The program is designed to assist the professional development skills of visual artists living with disability or mental illness in the Ipswich area.

A kin to all artist in what ever fields is the struggle for social and professional acceptance, with so much of ourselves invested in the work itself. As a artist myself so much of my worth as a artists is tided up in how my work is judge by others and what they are willing to pay for it.

Imagine if you had to add to this mixture of creative emotions the struggles that living with a disability of metal illness can bring. Imagine you could not enter a building you needed to do business in. Artists are in the business of selling there artwork but for artist living with disability, access things such as education, training and skills development can be difficult.

ArtISability is about sourcing funding to provide training and resource support services to enable visual artists to further their skills development. We would love to extend our program beyond the Ipswich boundaries, but we are currently struggling to gain funding to launch our pilot program. We are currently looking to local businesses and organisations to partnership with us in presenting our four week pilot program.

ArtISability strives to focus on ability. Many of our artist are very talented and once their work hangs on galleries the traces of disability disappear. Our role is not to advertise the person's disability but promote the artist themselves.