formidAbility
Nominee Profile
Location: Birmingham
formidAbility is, to our knowledge, the UK’s only disability-led opera company. The company is breaking new ground in accessibility and inclusion in opera for those with disabilities: for audiences, participants and the opera sector workforce. 24% of the UK population identify as disabled, but we don’t see anywhere near that representation on opera stages, in creative teams or in the governance of UK opera companies.
Our vision is an opera sector where it is normal to see disabled people working in all areas of our industry; and where disabled audiences feel welcome and included at all performances.
We believe that diverse governance is key to embedding inclusive practice throughout any organisation. Our board of trustees and senior management use their diverse skills and lived experience to inform all of formidAbility’s work.
We lead by example, bringing formidable disabled talent into the mainstream, breaking down barriers, challenging outdated assumptions about disability and excellence, and encouraging aspiration among talented disabled people who don’t normally feel seen or heard in our sector. Our public performances are supported by community and educational workshops.
We produce and support opera that places accessibility at the foundation of the creative process, rather than tacking it on as an afterthought. We believe accessibility and inclusion are tremendously powerful and under-utilised creative tools that can inspire all performers and that more diverse creative teams benefit the creative and performance processes. We collaborate with the world’s foremost artists working for or with disability, because we believe that audiences miss out on a world of great art when artists, creators and performers with disabilities are missing from professional performance spaces.
“I didn’t think opera was for me, but now I want to go!”
Community workshop participant
“formidAbility has already unearthed something of great promise for opera’s future. Exciting.”
Charlotte Valori, My Theatre Mates
Our vision is an opera sector where it is normal to see disabled people working in all areas of our industry; and where disabled audiences feel welcome and included at all performances.
We believe that diverse governance is key to embedding inclusive practice throughout any organisation. Our board of trustees and senior management use their diverse skills and lived experience to inform all of formidAbility’s work.
We lead by example, bringing formidable disabled talent into the mainstream, breaking down barriers, challenging outdated assumptions about disability and excellence, and encouraging aspiration among talented disabled people who don’t normally feel seen or heard in our sector. Our public performances are supported by community and educational workshops.
We produce and support opera that places accessibility at the foundation of the creative process, rather than tacking it on as an afterthought. We believe accessibility and inclusion are tremendously powerful and under-utilised creative tools that can inspire all performers and that more diverse creative teams benefit the creative and performance processes. We collaborate with the world’s foremost artists working for or with disability, because we believe that audiences miss out on a world of great art when artists, creators and performers with disabilities are missing from professional performance spaces.
“I didn’t think opera was for me, but now I want to go!”
Community workshop participant
“formidAbility has already unearthed something of great promise for opera’s future. Exciting.”
Charlotte Valori, My Theatre Mates