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Normalising disability and differences, toward a more inclusive and accessible art world
In Transit is a non-profit contemporary arts platform dedicated to facilitating artistic exchange and increasing access to the arts. Process and education lie at the heart of our ethos as we strive to normalise the integration of access in artistic development.
We offer online residencies, courses on arts access and consultation services. We create opportunities for artists to experiment with new ideas, reflect on what they do, and develop accessible, thought-provoking work and research.
The difference we make:
Deaf in her left ear at a young age, our Founding Director Celina faced difficulties in adjusting to her condition. She often wondered about the potential impact on her ability to appreciate art, enjoy music, or engage with films if she was to lose all her hearing one day. Working professionally in the arts, she grew frustrated that access is usually treated as a last minute feature – something one considers after the work is produced or the exhibition is installed.
Knowing that this problem not only affects herself but also the experience of disabled, senior and many audiences, Celina started working on In Transit. She wanted a space where artists and curators are nurtured to develop their artistic practice while integrating access in their work from the planning stage.
Celina initiated In Transit in January 2021. Throughout the year, she consulted artists and accessibility specialists to set up In Transit as a platform which embed accessibility from the ground up, as well as, designed In Transit’s residency programme. In November 2021, curator Elizabeth Low and freelance accessibility specialist Andrew Ronksley joined Celina and together, they launched In Transit’s pilot year in 2022. Through two pilot residencies, In Transit supported seven artists from the UK, Spain, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. From July – December 2022, In Transit took time to reflect on the feedback of artists and adjusted areas that were not working in the pilot residencies while acknowledging the year’s successes.
In January 2023, In Transit announced Removing barriers: Making your work accessible, a training programme around arts access co-delivered by Celina, Andrew Ronksley, Minnie Scott (interpretation specialist) and Anne Hornsby (Director of Mind’s Eye Description Services). Removing barriers is an integral part of In Transit’s residency.
CARING | COLLABORATION | INCLUSION | INNOVATION
Our work at In Transit is informed by the Social Model of Disability. The Social Model states that a person is not ‘disabled’ because of their impairment or health condition. Rather, it is the physical and attitudinal barriers in society – prejudice, lack of access adjustments and systemic exclusion – that disable people. We see disability arts and culture as a caring space where experience of barriers can be shared and valued. At In Transit, we recognise failure as a learning experience. We strive to learn and build upon what we do as a way of finding out how we can better contribute to increasing access in the arts.
In Transit promises to:
Celina is the Founding Director at In Transit where she manages the organisation's day-to-day activities and programmes, finances and stakeholder relationships. When not wearing her In Transit hat, Celina curates and writes for art exhibitions and events in the UK, Czech Republic and Malaysia. In her role as an independent curator, she supports artists and organisations with delivering accessible, inclusive and engaging content. Celina is also the Project Manager at FRANK Fair Artist Pay and is on the selection panel of UK Open Awards 23/24 by Unlimited.
Hana is the Project Coordinator at In Transit. She ensures that our projects run smoothly and supports with stakeholder relationships. If you run into any issues, she's your go to person. Hana is also a multidisciplinary artist, making work that explores what it means to be a Malay-born, Muslim and Third-Culture woman. She is an experienced art lecturer and curator at universities and galleries in Malaysia.
Elizabeth Low is a founding member of In Transit. Supporting the pilot year of In Transit, Elizabeth now acts as an advisor for the platform and occasionally provides curatorial support for the residency. An art professional based in Malaysia, she regularly works with artists from diverse backgrounds and has written for art exhibition catalogues. Apart from her external projects, she currently lectures at the Malaysian Institute of Art, and is the first South-East Asian-based editor for ArtRabbit, an international contemporary art platform.
© 2023 In Transit Space CIC
A non profit community interest company (CIC) registered in England and Wales. No. 14421882