Now that I’ve come to the end of Narrative Shift, I’m reflecting on the whole project and the things I have learned. I kept artist reflection diaries throughout the process and have been looking back on them, as well as getting feedback from participants. This blog post is just a snippet of a wonderful project!
Here’s the link to the exhibition, where you can find all of the work from the project.
A little bit about Narrative Shift
Narrative Shift is a project that was funded and supported by Helix Arts as part of their ‘Re:Visits’ commissions. It was a project that came from one thought – I want to work with Queer and Disabled people to share their stories in a world and political climate that often speaks for and about minoritised groups, rather than talking, and listening to, them.
The project began late 2024, months before the recent attacks Queer (specifically trans) and disabled people have faced at the hands of the UK government and media – but has become even more poignant in the face of these events.
The goal was to get one poem from each person written, edited and ready to perform – and as you can see in the final exhibition, that goal was far surpassed. The participants of the project have been amazing; sharing their stories with me and bringing it to life via spoken word.
I wish to name the participants here, as simply calling them ‘participants’ without mentioning them by name feels wrong – this exhibition, and the project, is only possible because of them:
Megan Adams, Theodore Forcer, Vinny Frost, Arwen Greenwood (Rune), CK Frost, Molly Knox, Clare Matthews, AJ McKenna. Jasmine Sara, Jasmine Stephenson and RadiKal Queen.
Each one of these wonderful human beings made the project what it became, and I’m so privileged to have been able to work with them and to share their stories with you.
In the exhibition, you will hear/read/see tales of Queer and Disabled joy, rage, upset, fear, pain and power. Each poem tells a story which I believe needs to be heard – now more than ever.
Sessions
I wrote down notes from each session in a new notebook (new project = new notebook – I don’t make the rules!). Here’s some things that jump out at me now as I write:
“[participants] mentioned [people needing to] ‘mind their business’ and ‘touch grass’, as well as not view disabled people as ‘inspiring for simply existing as disabled” – this was from the initial conversations in session 1 with the weekday group, and ended up inspiring the whole group poem ‘Touch Grass (Mind Your Business)’.
“Ideas sparked kept coming back to wanting to ‘be remembered as how I want to be remembered’ and ‘will I get to fulfill my potential” – from session 1 with the weekend group, which then inspired their ‘Define’ group poem.
From the very first session, the groups had so much to say about what it is to be Queer and Disabled in our society, and from that came two beautiful group poems:
‘Touch Grass (Mind Your Business)’
And ‘Define’
Some later reflections include:
After session 2 with the weekday group – “I want to emphasise ownership for participants – this is is all them (their story, their lived experiences)”
After the first 2 sessions with both groups – “Big moment of recognising my facilitator abilities” – this I wrote and then underlined, highlighted in a box and put some stars next to… I can’t even remember exactly what inspired this, I just know that I was feeling so happy with the space I had created and how open and caring everyone was of themselves and others when sharing their lived experiences.
Near the middle of the project, I noted “It meant everyone got what they needed at different levels of scaffolding – chuffed!”
And
“Getting really excited for what’s next!”
There’s lots of notes of “so exciting!” “it was such a joy!”, “going super well” and “made my heart so full” after that.
Once final sessions were over and participants had all of their poems recorded, I wrote this:
“Overall, I’m really proud of this project. Already had feedback about warmth of space, importance of project and generally how I’m working – really fulfilling”
I also wrote this: “I think I still have that little doubting voice or imposter syndrome, maybe, with big projects like this, so I need to take this reflection time to remind myself that I worked for this and I’m here for a reason”
My personal reflections from the project were much more detailed than this, of course, but I think these snippets really show how much I care about this project and how much I wanted to make it the best it could be.
The final reflection is one that I’m sharing simply because I know others feel this way too. Despite how successful the project has been and how much positive feedback we receive, there’s often a little doubting voice in the back of our minds saying “what am I doing here?”. That voice is a little liar-pants-on-fire and this project has really solidified in my mind that I absolutely can do things like this, and more!
Final Thoughts
On a personal note, this project was built on mutual respect, understanding and solidarity. Putting lots of Queer and Disabled people in the room together during scary times like the ones we live in has been an incentivising life force for me, and from the feedback it seems for the participants also. In my artist diary I wrote “time and space to connect with your community in a safe and mutually understanding place is a must!” and I truly believe that.
It has kept me writing and striving for better through my own fear of what I see happening around me, specifically the lack of humanity. This wonderful group of humans reminded me in every single session that there is good – there is fear and pain and suffering, but there is also hope and joy and rage and power in our stories and our voices, and we deserve to be heard.
On that note…please take some time to listen to and read the poems and to think about what you’re actively doing for Queer and Disabled people…
Are you striving for accessibility from the ground up, not just as a last-minute thought in everything you do?
Are you encouraging discussions?
Are you challenging your MPs about benefit cuts, rhetoric and laws that further the oppression of Queer and Disabled people?
Are you protesting with us?
Are you highlighting our voices?
Are you listening to what we have to say?
I hope you get something from the exhibition, and I hope that you, in whatever way works, share your story too.