Annual Edward Rushton lecture is all the rage

An annual event named in member of pioneering blind Liverpool poet, bookseller and abolitionist will be held at the Museum of Liverpool next week.

The Edward Rushton Social Justice Lecture takes place on December 3.

The lecture is organised by Liverpool disabled and Deaf arts organisation DaDa and is held on the United Nations International Day for People with Disabilities.

This year the guest speaker will be award-winning theatre maker, writer and activist Kate O’Reilly, with her talk RAGE ON: The Uses of Anger covering the subjects of ableism and audism.

She describes ableism and audism as the discrimination of and social prejudice against people based on the belief that other bodies, senses and neurology are superior, adding: “As an artist and an individual, my reaction to ableism and audism? Rage.

“Rage gets a bad press. We’re fearful of it, distrust it and are encouraged to consider it as always destructive. Whereas when tempered and directed, it can be a transformative energy. In my talk I’ll address some of the uses of anger by disability artists, campaigners and cultural activists to address social injustice.”

The 1pm event will also include a panel discussion with former DaDa artistic director Ruth Fabby (Gould), Red Ladder Theatre Company artistic director Cheryl Martin and award-winning documentary maker, playwright and performer Julie McNamara.

The lecture is being presented in conjunction with Disability Arts Online and will also be streamed live as well as being made available later on demand.

DaDa was formed in 1984 and is marking its 40th anniversary year with celebrations and events centred around the theme of ‘Rage’.

The Edward Rushton Social Justice Lecture takes place on December 3 at 1pm. More details and free tickets for the event HERE