DAISYfest celebrates the extraordinary creativity of disabled artists in Surrey and beyond combining music, theatre, dance, film and poetry by member groups of the DAISY organisation. Each year a festival is co-ordinated which brings together many of the outstanding artists and art organisations who work in the disability field for a day of celebration, awareness and art.

About DAISY

DAISY (Disability Arts in Surrey) is an umbrella organisation which promotes and champions the works of disabled artists and disability arts organisations in the area. The organisation strives to develop the south east as the lead region in the UK for disability and deaf cultural activity, making Surrey a welcoming and accessible place for all artists to practice. DAISY works with its member organisations to share skills, resources and grow together.
   

DAISYfest 2018

Thanks to grants for the Arts funding from Arts Council England and support from APS, inspired by the work of James Henry Pullen, artist and long stay resident at the Royal Earlswood Asylum (1850-1916) artists from the DAISY network have been making model craft to carry their dreams and aspirations into a better future.   Led by sculptor Russell Jakubowski, Flotilla, an exhibition of DAISY artists’ colourful model craft and textile hangings by PrintAble artists were shown at the Lightbox in Woking in October.

Flotilla was a partnership project between DAISY, The Lightbox and the Watts Gallery who hosted ‘James Henry Pullen: Inmate – Inventor – Genius’between June and October, an exhibition that inspired and provided the impudus for the project.  The initial model making workshops led by Russell Jakubowsi were held at the Watts gallery.   

Alongside work created for Flotilla, Chris Pavia from Stopgap Dance Company created an original piece of dance choreography, based upon Pullen's famous giant puppet.  Solo performances of Pavia’s choreography were  performed at Watts Gallery in September as part of their Making festival, and then again at the opening of Flotilla at the Lightbox in October.

 

DAISYfest 2016

On 9th June 2016 G Live in Guildford came alive with a diverse programme of events, free workshops and a late night party. Featuring performances from Stopgap Dance Company's SG2 Troop, the acclaimed Freewheelers Theatre Company and a specially commissioned carnival themed show from The UP! Orchestra, Daisyfest 2016 had something for everyone to enjoy.

DAISYfest 2015

DAISYfest 2015 was part of the Great Charter Festival at Royal Holloway University on Sunday 14th June. The fun, free festival celebrated liberty and marking 800 years of the signing of the Magna Carta in Runnymede.

Performances included outstanding contributions from Stopgap Dance Company's SG2 and Youth Group, Dramatize, Rhythmic Collision and Bloomin' Arts who performed an irreverent look at the work of Charles Dickens. All performances linked to the festival's core theme of liberty and rights. Art Matters and The Grange Centre engaged visitors with their wonderful interactive art workshops including 'Heads Up' collaged distorted faces and creating sun prints. Go to the DAiSY FEST flickr site to see photos from the 2015 festival.

 

 

DAISYfest 2014

DAISYfest 2014 took place at GLive on 3 & 4 June. Over the two days, it brought innovative performance, film, installation and workshops led by artists from Surrey, London and the South East under the Artistic Direction of John Kelly.  

The full programme included performances from the Freewheelers Theatre Company, Stopgap dance company, Gary Thomas, Firestone Rock Band and Graeae.  Installations were created by Art Matters, The Pantry Project and The Grange Centre.

 

DAISYfest is made possible by funding from Arts Council South East, Arts Partnership Surrey and Surrey County Council.
For more detailed information about the project, please see the 2014 evaluation report.