Crip Arte Spazio: The Disability Arts Movement in Venice

Presented by Shape, Curated & Creatively Directed by David Hevey, Designed by Nina Shen and Produced by Shape Arts

Shape brings its landmark Crip Arte Spazio: The Disability Arts Movement in Venice exhibition to Leicester, fresh from its presentation at the world-renowned Venice Biennale 2024. The Disability Arts Movement aligned art with the fight for rights, broke barriers, and ultimately affected changes in UK law, while making great art about doing so.

Currently showing during the 60th Venice Biennale, the exhibition is a joyous and exuberant celebration of the Disability Arts Movement, showcasing its dynamism, wit, and grandeur. The exhibition reclaims historical slurs ‘Crip Arte Spazio’ in an unflinching explosion of huge protest banners, cartoon panels, large-scale projected artist films, photography, graphic novels, and campaign merchandise featuring artists Keith Armstrong (supported by the National Disability Movement Archive and Collection), Terence Birch, Tony Heaton OBE, Jameisha Prescod, Abi Palmer, Ker Wallwork, Tanya Raabe-Webber and Jason Wilsher-Mills.

The title Crip Arte Spazio, translated as Crip Art Space, plays on Italian words while reclaiming slurs disabled people have historically and continue to face. We fully support the curators, artists and disabled people in the reclamation of these words.

The project is supported by Arts Council England, British Council, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Creative Scotland and CREA, Venice.

Gallery Opening Times:

Weekdays, 12pm – 5pm
Weekends, 12pm – 4pm

Exhibition Accessibility

Our friendly team of volunteers and gallery invigilators can tell you more about the artworks and artists.

Sound and light levels can be adjusted.

Seating is available in all gallery spaces.

Gallery interpretation is produced in large print as standard.

A braille guide for the exhibition is also available from the gallery desk.

Film and video artworks are subtitled, or where this is not possible a transcript will be available.

Ear defenders are available from the gallery desk.

A full guide to accessibility and facilities information across our spaces can be found here.

If you require an adjustment that isn’t mentioned please contact us ahead of your visit and we will try to meet your request within our capacity.