Interview with Emma Stryker

How has your experience as a disabled artist shaped the way you navigate the art world?

As a disabled artist, I see the world differently to others. This sometimes leads to me interacting with the world differently too.

It's pushed me to create opportunities for myself (and others) to make art and collaborate. It can be challenging working as a lone artist without anyone to relay and bounce information off. There are opportunities in the art world for disabled artists that are becoming more accessable but I have found it useful to create projects for myself where I have not been able to find opportunities.

Do you feel the art industry is becoming more inclusive or are there still major barriers?

The art world is becoming more inclusive but there are still barriers that we need to break down. There is still a "one size fits all approach" when applying for applications for jobs, projects, exhibitions and galleries. If we are working to make a more fair and inclusive art world, we need the more corporate organisations to allow for flexibility in their applications.

What have been the biggest challenges in getting your work seen, and how have you worked around them?

Getting your work into a gallery can be quite taxing on yourself as artist even before the presence of any disabilities that may be present. The standard application process is enough to cut many disabled artists out.

I have worked around these barriers by finding my own opportunities and reaching out directly. There are opportunities that you can take part in online whether it is an online virtual exhibition or artist virtual meet ups. This has allowed me to keep involved within the art world when at times, going to a physical artist meet up has been out of the realm of possibility.

I have resorted to putting a lot of my artwork online through Ebay and Etsy. The costs are relatively low and there is little risk of me doing into arrears through this process.

A lot of galleries will ask for a 40% cut from any artworks that are sold within the gallery. They may also ask for an amount to have your work on display. I understand the importance of supporting art galleries, buildings, staff and the general running of a venue to be able to put on these exhibitions, but realistically I imagine this would cut a lot of working artists out.

Have you found support or community through disability focused or inclusive platforms?

I have found support through many groups including: Disability Arts Cymru, Outside In, Something Out Of Nothing and DASH.

I have some of my prints available in a shop called Something Out Of Nothing in Machynlleth. They require a £10 monthly payment to rent the space you are showing your artwork in and only a 20% cut of any artworks sold. They also include a profile of you and your work on their website. This is a more flexible and affordable way of getting my artwork seen and though I am not able to travel to Machynlleth, I send my prints by post.

Disability Arts Cymru helped me with showcasing my work as part of the Aildanio exhibition. This exhibition toured 6 different galleries in Wales. They took complete ownership and responsibility for transferring and setting up the artworks at each gallery. This enabled my artwork to exist in the artwork without having to physically be there.

Other ways I have gone around this include applying for virtual exhibitions. It’s a great way to get your art seen internationally and build your own portfolio of exhibitions.

Outside In allows artists to create their own gallery on the platform. This can act as a portfolio for working artists where they may not be able to afford payment for a custom website.

What do you wish galleries, curators, or institutions better understood about disabled artists?

Something I think galleries can improve on is the application process, decreasing the percentage of artworks sold and open exhibitions.

Perhaps they could implement a similar system in which tax percentages are calculated e.g. if an artwork is under £100 there is only a 20% charge. If an artwork is over £250 it can be increased.

I have seen the value in holding open exhibitions both online and within galleries. Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre had a pop up open exhibition last year which brought in new faces and families of all ages. Virtual open exhibitions work well too! I have aquired followers and friends through these which helps expand my personal network of creatives.

It allows artists to showcase their work as they are with no strict theme and a more relaxed approach. It gives artists a boost in their career, opportunity to showcase and sell their artwork, meet likeminded artists and creatives all in a relaxed setting.

I would like for professionals to be more flexible in their approach to interviews and applications. They will experience for themselves the people that have been left out who often have a great deal of lived in experiences which informs their artwork and practice.

It will allow them to have a wider, realistic variety of artwork and support their disability confident employer statement (if they have one).

What is your personal experience of visiting art spaces?

My personal experience of visiting art spaces has been positive as both an artist and a viewer. Venues that carry art are wonderful vessels. I much rather any building with a corridor speckled with pieces of artwork than plain white walls. The experience of walking through galleries, exhibitions and creative workshops is a positive joyful one. More often than not, people who are working are happy to help. It makes me wonder whether the choices that are being made higher up are the barriers that I am trying to over come.