In 2017 Melbourne’s Queer Arts and Culture Festival, Midsumma, launched Midsumma Futures, a development and mentoring program focused on bringing together a diverse range ofearly-career artists and culture makers, who are looking to forge their cultural and artistic voices. Midsumma Futures included professional mentoring, peer-support and workshops to assist participants to further develop their practise.

While reception to the program was an undeniable success, it was quickly identified that for some in our LGBTIQA+ communities who also identified as living with disability had barriers, both perceived and actual, that were preventing them from confidently engaging with the program.

It was time for that to change, and this year, the Midsumma Festival have launched Midsumma Pathways, a new professional development program for queer artists living with disabilities.

Dean Arcuri spoke with Midsumma Festival Chief Execuitive Karen Bryant to find out more.

You can find out more about Midsumma Pathways by heading to Midsumma.org.au

This segment of The Informer aired on JOY 94.9 on 16thMay 2018.