100% of our artists and nearly half of our audience identify as disabled.
Just of half a million was the estimated footfall for DaDaFest International 40.
Nearly all of our audience thought DaDaFest was ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.
These are just some of the compelling stats from our 2024/2025 impact report.
As our CEO Ben Haslam said upon the release of the report “At a time when our well fought rights feel systematically eroded, we need to do something to demonstrate the artistry and the economic impact that Deaf and disabled people bring to our region and the wider cultural landscape.”
We hope our report goes some way to do this.
Visit our #LinkInBio to download our full report in PDF, text only, easy read and BSL. Print and large print copies are also available via [email protected]
Image 1: Disabled artists and performers take part in the ‘Pimp My Wheelchair’ launch parade curated by Faith Bebington and Janet Price at Sefton Park Palm House. Credit Brian Roberts
Image 2: An audience watch and photograph a performer glowing in red light and using a wheelchair on stage at ‘Eat Me’ DDFI40 event in District. Credit Jess Meade
Image 3: Projected film ‘Hand Ships Sail’ by Cathy Mager is lighting up the side of the Cunard building. A woman is using BSL and next to her are the words ‘Deaf World’. Credit Brian Roberts
Image 4: Writer and performer Amina Atiq embraces another person at the DDFI40 opening event in Open Eye Gallery, Rage, Riot and Revolution by Jan Williams, The Caravan Gallery. Credit Brian Roberts.
Image 5: Artist Zack Mennell lying on a floor at Bluecoat as part of their ‘Rage Reactor’ live activations for DDFI40. Credit Brian Roberts
📢DaDa Announce 40th Anniversary year impact
Today, a year on from DDFI40 drawing to a close, we launch our 2024/2025 impact report.
As our CEO Ben Haslam reflects in this video,
“DaDa have never done enough to shout about the impact of our work” across our 40 years. “But at a time when our well fought rights feel systematically eroded, we need to do something to demonstrate the artistry and the economic impact that Deaf and disabled people bring to our region and the wider cultural landscape.”
Our report shares the stories of some of those incredible artists along with the figures that show the reach of their work.
Around half a million is the estimated footfall for DaDaFest in 2025.
100% of our partners said that working with DaDa changed their perception of disability as a social issue, and they were now more likely to work with disabled artists as a result of working with us.
Nearly everyone who attended our festival rated it good or excellent.
100% of the 148 artists we worked with across the year identified as disabled.
Jen Cleary, Director, Combined Arts and North, @aceagrams said:
“Across its 40-year history, DaDa has played an important role in disability art, from increasing access to opportunities to advocating for a more inclusive cultural sector. This new Social Impact report shines a light on how their work continues to make a positive impact in the North West and beyond. We’re proud to support DaDa for their festival and artist development programmes and look forward to how these develop into the future.”
Visit our website to view our full report including plain text, easy read, BSL summary and opportunity to receive a large print version. #LinkInBio
Video Description: Ben Haslam, DaDa CEO/Artistic Director, stands in front of greenery in the Bluecoat Courtyard. He is wearing a black top with a yellow DaDaFest Lanyard around his neck
Thanks @acegrams@culture_liverpool@lpoolcitcouncil@youthmusicuk
✊Statement from DaDa Regarding Access to Work
DaDa is committed to developing and making opportunities for disabled artists and improving access within arts and culture.
Through our 40th anniversary DaDaFest ‘RAGE’ we worked with more than 40 Disabled artists and saw more than 22,000 people enjoying their performances, workshops and exhibitions, showing the immense impact of their work.
We have had the great privilege of working with many disabled artists and activists over our 40 years, including the incredible Jess Thom of Touretteshero, who recently shared her story of having to step down from her role as Co-Artistic Director due to changes in Access to Work, and we, like many disabled arts organisations, feel deeply saddened to have heard this news.
We believe schemes like Access to Work provide disabled artists the opportunity to be equal and provide their experiences and insights to the cultural sector, creating a space where these artists can flourish and thrive.
Many of the artists in our network and those who have taken part in DaDaFest rely on Access to Work to cover costs of support workers, equipment, and travel that make working arrangements appropriate for disabled people. Without that resource many workplaces and working environments are totally inaccessible and leave disabled people excluded from arts and culture.
DaDa, like many disability led organisations, is concerned about changes that may impact on disabled artists livelihoods and careers. Without Access to Work, as Jess Thom’s story reflects, many artists will lack the underpinning support that allows them to share their work, and we will see disabled people start to fade from the sector, chipping away at the hard fought progress for equality within the arts.
We stand with those within our community who are concerned about the impact of these changes on their work and practice.
We advocate for Access to Work to be funded and administered as a vital resource for creating an inclusive arts and culture sector, rather than stripped back and treated as an optional luxury.
Read our full statement over on our blog via #LinkInBio
We had a really valuable afternoon taking part in accessibility training with the lovely Rachel and Denise from DadaFest.🙏🏼
The training was so useful and informative and it was delivered in a way that was accessible to our team and relevant to the festival. We couldn’t recommend it enough 🖤💜❤️
It was great to also be joined by team members of each host venue to learn about actions we can take and things we can put in place to improve accessibility at the festival locations. We forgot to take a photo of the whole group together (sorry everyone!) but here is who we caught at the end!
We want Outer Waves to be as accessible and welcoming as possible. Uptodate access information for the festival will be on the website by the end of the week and we will notify everyone with a social media post too.
We are so excited to host everyone this year - see you in 11 days 😱
ARTIST COMMISSIONS #2 - @dadafest
This year, we are proud to welcome another local commission from multi-instrumentalist Tomas Edgar, in partnership with DaDaFest.
Tomas Edgar is a multi instrument musician based in northwest Liverpool. He plays Drums, Guitar, Bass Guitar, And keyboards. He enjoys playing and writing unconventional / experimental music heavily inspired by Frank Zappa and Japanese Jazz Fusion. He likes to explore lots of different genres / types of music such has Rock Blues Classic Country Reggae Jazz and blend these ideas together He produces his own music and enjoys helping others went ever he can. Tomas will be joined on stage by Multi instrumentalist of Ex Easter Island Head, Jon Herring along with drummer and member of Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company, Finley Holt.
Catch Tomas opening the Make stage on Sunday 24th May at Outer Waves Festival.
23-24 May - tickets available in bio 🎟️
#experimentalmusic #musicfestival #newmusic
Wanting to improve access within your organisation by learning British Sign Language?
Find it difficult to commit to 2-3 hours per week on the same day, over 30 weeks?
Find it easier to work intensively?
This Deaf Awareness Week, DaDa may have the course for you.
DaDa has booked 'BSL Teacher of the Year' John Mancini (Home | Sign Jam BSL) to deliver an intensive, 5-day course for a Signature British Sign Language (BSL) Level 1 qualification this September, and we are able to open the opportunity to anyone who would like to join us.
The course has been run successfully by Ad Infinitum in Bristol for many years and DaDa brought the course to Liverpool last year with 100% pass rate for those attending. Places on the Bristol course are usually limited, and we appreciate that not everyone can afford personally, professionally (and financially) to go away for a whole week, so we are hoping that by providing the course locally this will enable professionals from the North West to learn BSL from a highly rated tutor.
Here is all you need to know about the course:
· Course: BSL Level 1 (Signature Qualification)
· Course Delivered by: John Mancini
· Accessible City Centre Venue: tbc
· Date/Time: 7 – 11 September, 9.30am - 4.30pm each day
· Course Fee: £475.00 (which includes assessment fees)
· Light refreshments will be provided (drinks/snacks)
Integrating access into arts and enterprise is our passion, and we would love other organisations to join us in making a commitment to building access by training more of their workforce in BSL (British Sign Language).
If you are interested in joining, please contact [email protected] for more information, access requirements and bookings.
We were thrilled to hear our CEO/Artistic Director Ben Haslam has been accepted on the University of Oxford Cultural Leaders Programme.
The programme aims to challenge and redefine your identity as a leader in the arts and culture sector through this acclaimed cultural leadership programme designed and delivered by the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School and its Gardens, Libraries and Museums.
Ben is looking forward to connecting with other directors, heads of department and senior managers within the UK’s thriving Cultural Sector as well as taking up a brilliant opportunity for personal and professional development.
#OCLOnline2026
A fantastic 2 day workshop in visual theatre with @rameshmeyyappan in collaboration with @dadafest
Part of our In Motion project supported by @phholtfoundation
Thanks to all the wonderful participants & fantastic interpreter @piercestarreartist & project lead @joannetremarco
#unitytheatre #deafartist #deafledtheatre
DaDa is proud to support the wildly entertaining 'Casu Martzu' coming to Unity Theatre this weekend.
This brilliantly amusing performance is showing for one night only on Saturday 25th April and is described as "A clown’s descent into a world of cheese".
Featuring Teatro Pomodoro’s Simone Tani and live music by Marco Riola, this surreal and mischievous duo of Sardinians living in Liverpool serve up laughter, music, and a dangerously delicious taste of their magical Mediterranean island.
The Guinness World Records once described Sardinia’s legendary Casu Martzu as the most dangerous cheese in the world. In this absurdist clown comedy, a cheese maggot arrives on stage to convince the audience that he comes in peace. Along the way, he challenges one of the greatest philosophers of all time, attempts to prove him wrong, and even explains the meaning of life in the process.
With hilarious costumes designed by Carmen Arquelladas and lighting by Xenia Bayer, the performance immerses audiences in a grotesque and playful theatrical universe reminiscent of Ubu Roi by Alfred Jarry.
The Show is produced by Teatro Pomodoro and Splats Entertainment and supported by Dante Alighieri Society Liverpool and DaDa.
Book your tickets via @unity_theatre website. #LinkInBio
We are touched by the warm response to our 40th anniversary year impact report we released last week. 🥰
The report shares stories of some of the artists and organisations we worked with across the year, and these are some of the quotes we are deeply proud to have received.
“I think DaDa was the best time for me” from Josh Henderson, recording artist, is one of our favourites.
You can find our report in BSL summary, easy read, large print and plain text over one our website. Follow our #LinkInBio to find our report.
Photos…
Image 1: DaDa Makes Music participants at Liverpool Philharmonic July 2025. Credit Brian Roberts
Image 2: Joshua Henderson holds up copies of his album at HMV Liverpool. Credit Brian Roberts
Image 3: A young girl from Alder Experiences project is working on her animation illustration. Credit Brian Roberts
Image 4: Artist Faith Bebington peeps out from one of her sculpture projects. Credit Jan Williams, The Caravan Gallery – part of ‘Rage Riot and Revolution’ exhibition DDFI40
Image 5: Zoe Partington’s ‘Painting in Light’ neon sculpture reading ‘Love not pity’ hangs in Williamson Art Gallery. Credit Tom Walker
We worked with148 Disabled Artists.
Facilitated 36 Workshops.
Delivered 19 Digital Projects.
Received 100% positive impact score form partners regarding their perception of disability and willingness to include disabled artists in their programme moving forward.
These are just a few of the stats you can find in the DaDa 2024/2025 Impact Report now live on our website.
Visit our #LinkInBio to find out more.
Photos:
1: Not Your Circus Dog Performing ‘Not F**Kin’ Sorry’ at Unity Theatre at DDFI40. Credit Brian Roberts
2. Amy Claire Mills along with Amina Atiq, Natalia Bedkowska and Jordon Connerty and other local artists, hold up large inflatables at the poolside for ‘Hydro Disco’ as part of Liverpool Biennial in partnership with DaDa. Credit Biennial
3. Matt Allen and Collaborators look at a screen at the launch of Matt’s work ‘It’s Not you, It’s M.E.’ at FACT Liverpool. Credit Brian Roberts
4. Midgitte Bardot Performing ‘Shooting From Below’ at Unity Theatre during DDFI40. Credit Brian Roberts
5. Artists Faith Bebington and Janet Price embrace at the launch of their ‘Pimp My Wheelchair’ exhibition at Sefton Park Palm House for DDFI40. Credit Brian Roberts
Thanks to @aceagrams@culture_Liverpool@LpoolCityCouncil
