Second edition of incluarte celebrates inclusion and artistic expression

On 5 December 2019 evening, musicians, singers, poets and other artists gathered at Fundação Fernando Leite Couto to celebrate inclusion in the arts and the use of braille and sign language in cultural expression. “IncluArte is a manifestation of artistry, emotion and inclusion,” said Enia Lipanga, the main organizer of the event. Enia is a program assistant at h2n, which works with TV Surdo and Midia Lab to help promote inclusive media. Over the course of the evening, persons with disability played music, read poetry and engaged in theatre. Actress Isabel Jorge, who is not deaf, acted with Lizete Vieira, who is deaf. “It was a unique but very good experience for me,” said Jorge of the special challenges and rewards of acting within a context where the actors cannot respond to the same auditory cues. Their theater piece showed the difficulties persons with disability can encounter at the hospital when they seek help in a medical emergency. IncluArte is one of several initiatives designed to normalize the involvement of persons of disability in the expression and enjoyment of arts and culture. The event was covered by TVM and RTP.