Many, many years ago, I asked the question, “Where is Dwarf Culture?” This question evolved, I think, from my observations of witnessing the arts and cultural scene of disability arts and not seeing many Dwarf people involved in that conversation.

I’ve also felt at times that the disability community doesn’t understand the unique challenges that people with Dwarfism face.

I also feel that because of the historical representation of the Dwarf body and the limited and stereotypical roles we are expected to play, there is an urgent need to redress that balance.

Essentially, we need the space, resources and investment to help us challenge stereotypes and the daily discrimination and negative attention we face.

Importantly, we need a safe space to explore and develop our voices without fear of being dismissed or our experiences belittled.

Obstacles in the way… And INCREASING ConcerN

Since around 2019, I have envisioned establishing a creative arts organisation that addresses that question. It’s taken me quite a while to take action. I have notebooks and plenty of Google Docs with plans and ideas that have yet to see the light of day.

Plus, we’ve had a pandemic, alongside some enormous health challenges for my family and me. I’ve also been dealing with severe burnout from these challenges and the baptism of fire of stumbling into the arts world.  Practice-wise, there has been an inherent tension between wanting to develop my practice and body of work and ensuring that I can create opportunities for the community to be involved in this journey.

Lately, I’ve realised there will never be a perfect time to get things up and running. I’m still facing some serious health issues; menopause is kicking my backside, and my confidence in my ability and skills – up and left goodness knows when.  I’ve also become very frustrated around the narrative of disability and what appears to be regressive policies and rhetoric around disability.  Accessibility seems to be evaporating at a rapid rate in the U.K.  It doesn’t need to be this way.

The Missing Gap in the Dwarfism Community

While we have some fantastic organisations in the Dwarfism community doing great work with advocacy and engagement, I realised there is a gap.

This missing gap is around arts and culture engagement and practice in and by the community.

More specifically, I would love to see the rich and varied voices of the community being platformed.  I would love to develop creative opportunities for people with Dwarfism beyond what is stereotypically expected in society.

More than panto

Yes, I mean panto, hen/stag dos, and fantastical roles here. While these roles provide work for people in the community, we cannot discount the divisions such roles have created or the significant impact they have on how we are treated on the street.

Also, from my practice of engaging and research in cultural activities in the community, I have noticed a distinct lack of trust in engaging, let alone the awareness or skills available to gain one’s voice and agency through art activities and practice.  How many of us avoid comedy nights or certain cultural activities for fear of ridicule? We need a space that is inclusive and develops individual and collective confidence.

Introducing Dwarf Voices

This is what I hope Dwarf Voices – an organisation that will platform the voices and lived experience of the Dwarfism community through creative arts – will achieve.

To launch the start of this endeavour, I invite members of the Dwarfism community to the first Dwarf Voices event on 8th April at 7pm.

It’s your opportunity to shape the direction of this new project and to say what activities and events you would like to see happen. The invitation is below and on the Dwarf Voices website.

I hope to see you there!

Steph

 

AN INVITATION – GET INVOLVED!

Dwarf Voices is looking to change the narrative around Dwarfism and empower people from the community through arts and culture.
To do that, we want to know what change you want to see!

Join us at our first event on Tuesday, 8th April 2025, at 7pm.
This event is via Zoom.
Attendees must have a form of un/diagnosed Dwarfism to be able to attend.
Aged 18+
Register your interest at steph@dwarfvoices.co.uk