Deaf and disabled artists to maintain a high profile for the Cultural Olympiad

London’s Mayor Boris Johnson has encouraged Deaf and disabled artists to maintain a high profile for the Cultural Olympiad following this month’s Liberty Festival. The festival showcased specially commissioned performances and covered dance, circus, visual arts, spoken word, and sport and arts collaborations. Performers included Deaf dancer and choreographer Chisato Minamimura, Blue Eyed Soul’s aerial performance and ‘Sputnik’, a combination of kinetic sculpture by Sharmanka (pictured) and aerial performance by Claire Cunningham. The London 2012 Committee will announce ‘Unlimited’ in the Autumn which will use the Olympic and Paralympic Games to highlight the creative talents and ambitions of disabled people and challenge traditional perceptions of disability. It will feature major commissions for disabled artists and organisations as well as providing workshops, mentoring, career and training advice.