tenant profile ‘A tangle is not a knot ~ it can be « remain happily tangled, Tangles are messy an q mpertect, but they are also complex, int rganic, even deliberate, Tangles represent what this organization does: wi ‘ing together ail kinds of people and practices.” Eliza Chandler Tangled Art + Disability, formerly Abilities Arts Festival What ting from the homes sinee it was formed in 2008. Jan as a week-long festival o of impassioned parents, has blossomed into a dynamic, nots ofit arts organization that supports, cultiv and celebrates disability art. Eliza Chandler, Artistic Dire at Tangled Art + Disability, Rina Fraticelli fant Executive Dire by s a major force behind Tangled's success. When Rina joined the team, she J 1 staffing opportunit ‘or people who identify as disabled, fo ional artists, and the pre disability arts 2 mming on prof ampioned a significant branch of contemporary art These days, Tangled Art + Disability oversees robust annual 8 programming, and has recently begun tackiing some of by artists with disabilities Tangled has been invited by the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) to consult on various disability arts issues from funding opportunit funding structures hinder professional artists when they rely on the Ontario Disability Support Progra from the s the systemic challenges face: to accessibility. Eliza explains thet existing any earnings of artwork must be deducted from an ready 1d, making it difficult for artists to earn work, Together with the OAC, however Tangjed has inoreased funding opportunities for professional disability artists and they continue to lobby the government small monthly stip. an income from th 4 for change, They have even been named a recommenda! agency, allowing them to act as an intermediate funding body, The Iks at Tangled also focus a great deal of energy on \d resources. Without their own sitilty to art spac gallery (yet), Tangled must locate venues which rele their commitment to ramming in sible spac which is no easy f a articulates the frustrat rtist wi highlighting that, “If I'm an s cess hall the galleries in the city, ding a wheelchair and | can’t ac then how my under: what's going ting that affect my ability to become an a on in the Toronto art scene? If | can't access ? ty isa legislative concer, but it's also an artistic P: concer, because, swe just don't have ac This was one of the reasons why Tangled Art + Disability decided to host their upcoming spring arts festival, Strange Beauty, at 401 Richmond this year. “It's this is such an accessible, well-located building, heart of the Eliza says. She adds that, because it is such a known hub of contemporary art, [inserting] ourselves in the building was to say "We are in this conversation. We're here, These are works th 0 nice because in the ommunity. nyone interested in contemporary art would be interested in Watch for Strange Beauty at 401 Richmond April 9 to 26, “ipating spaces include Gallery 44, Vtape, Abbozzo Gallery, YYZ Artists’ Outlet, Urbanspace Gallery, Musideum, The Roastery Café, 401 Richmond Lobby. Above (clockwise): Eliza Chandler, Cara Eastcott, Lindsay Fisher, Katie MeMillan, Rina Fraticelli, Chelsea Mohler