Disability Arts Online Appoint Artistic Director

Disability Arts Online (DAO) has announced the appointment of disabled and neurodivergent theatre-maker, playwright and social justice activist, Kate Lovell, as its first Artistic Director.

DAO is a UK-based charitable arts organisation led by disabled people and has been an Arts Council England national portfolio organisation since 2018.

It occupies a unique global position with its website showcasing disability arts content, digital art gallery dis place, artist development projects, training and consultancy work, accessible events, and a vibrant community of disabled, deaf and neurodivergent creatives. 

Kate is an established arts leader whose practice spans directing, dramaturgy, writing and creative producing, with a focus on collaboration, disabled representation and creative access.

She has a longstanding relationship with DAO, starting in 2015 as a participant in a disabled writers development programme. Since then she has been a regular contributor to DAO’s magazine and podcast, and was the magazine’s first Guest Editor in 2018.

As Artistic Director, she will take creative leadership of DAO and will co-lead the organisation with CEO, Trish Wheatley. She joins DAO from her previous position as Co-Creative Director at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch. 

“DAO has played a formative role in my journey as a disabled and neurodivergent artist: first as a reader of the magazine, then as a trainee on its disabled writers’ programme, later as a contributor to the magazine and podcast, and eventually as DAO’s first Guest Editor," said Kate.

“I feel immensely privileged to be taking up the position of DAO’s first Artistic Director.”  

Kate’s other previous roles in the arts sector include being an Associate Artist with Graeae Theatre Company, and an Agent for Change with Ramps on the Moon at Theatre Royal Stratford East. She has a specialism in creative access consultancy and works regularly with the Egg in Bath, Frozen Light and Ensonglopedia in this role.

Her credits include Jack and the Beanstalk (co-writer and director) and Cinderella (director) at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch; Wood Wide Web (writer and director) at Greenwich and Docklands International Festival as part of Tales from the Woven O with Graeae Theatre Company; The TfL Play (director) at Almeida Theatre as part of The Key Workers Cycle; and Frostiana (writer and director) at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch. She has also worked as Guest Director for Separate Doors.

To find out more visit https://disabilityarts.online/

Photo credit: Leonie Mitchell-Lovell