This page explains what we do and why we do it. It links to further information about our programmes supporting disabled creatives and cultural organisations. Using our main menu above, you can browse Our Work and What's On to discover more about our activities and events. The Find Support menu has further information and resources for creatives and organisations
We are a disability-led arts organisation which works to improve access to culture for disabled people by providing opportunities for disabled artists, training cultural institutions to be more open to disabled people, and through running participatory arts and development programmes.
In 1976, Shape was founded by Gina Levete MBE with the purpose of introducing creative opportunities for pockets of the community where there was little or no opportunity to participate in the artistic life of the country. Today, Shape works nationally and internationally to champion disabled artists, advocate for accessibility across culture, and innovate around creative practices, inclusion, and audience engagement. You can find out more about our history below.
We have five working aims that enable us to carry out our mission:
Find out more about our Trustees, the Shape team, and the artists we work with.
All of our work is underpinned by the Social Model of Disability - find out more by browsing our resources.
What do we offer disabled artists and audiences? Read more
Learn more about the activist origins of our organisation! Read more
What change are we striving to spark? Read more