Jess Thom:
Biscuits Without Borders + Disability Culture in a Time of Pandemic
Biscuits Without Borders + Disability Culture in a Time of Pandemic
In October 2020, artist and co-founder of Touretteshero Jess Thom was invited to the Risk + Resilience Festival for a lecture and a talk with curator and dramaturg Noa Winter. The recordings of both events as well as an additional video in which Jess Thom answers further questions that could not be covered during her lecture are available online until July 31, 2021.
The recordings of the events are available in English spoken language. Both have an interpretation into German Sign language. The video that answers additional questions has English as well as German closed captions. A full transcript can be made available as well. For any questions regarding accessibility please contact Gina Jeske at jeske@sophiensaele.com or +49 30 27 89 00 35.
DISABILITY CULTURE IN A TIME OF PANDEMIC
Touretteshero co-founder Jess Thom examines and reflects on the barriers and opportunities that have arisen from the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown. Jess asks her audience to consider how we can work together to make a world that suits a broad spectrum of bodies and minds. As systems and structures start to spin back up, Jess argues that now is the ideal time to create a truly inclusive and socially just society.
“The response to COVID-19 has revealed how quickly change can happen when it’s deemed to be in everyone’s best interests. It reveals that nothing we think of as being unchangeable, actually is. Now we all know this, I want to see more action when it comes to eliminating systemic inequality.” Jess Thom
Biscuits Without Borders: An Open Conversation
In a global political climate that seems more polarised and divided than ever, artist, writer and activist Jess Thom and curator and researcher Noa Winter discus the importance of creative intersectional collaboration and solidarity across borders. The conversation will be open and inclusive, taking a relaxed approach and welcoming input from all. Having met each other previously at several key events, this is the first time that Jess and Noa will get to discuss the ideas that they care passionately about.
“Traveling internationally helped me appreciate how local systems and structures can impact on disabled people’s experiences and expectations. Making opportunities to discuss Disability Culture and Justice in a more global context feels exciting and essential.” Jess Thom
NOA WINTER is a curator and dramaturg with a focus on disability arts and accessibility. They are currently working as a coordinator for the Berlin-based project Making a Difference, which supports disabled and deaf dance professionals. Their main interests are the self-determined working methods of disabled, queer and chronically ill artists, aesthetics of access and questions of antiableist curating. Most recently they co-curated the symposia Making Theatre Accessible – Be prepared to make mistakes and Exploded Times, Mad Spaces – Disability Arts & Crip Spacetime.
WITH Jess Thom and Noa Winter DGS TRANSLATION Oya Ataman, Katharina Cordts
Realised with funds from the Capital Cultural Fund. Media partner: taz. die tageszeitung.
Jess Thom is co-founder of Touretteshero and may or may not lead a secret double life as a superhero. Artist, playworker, and expert fundraiser, Jess currently helps coordinate a large play project in South London. Jess has had tics since she was a child but wasn’t diagnosed with Tourettes until she was in her twenties. With some encouragement from her friends, Jess decided to turn her tics into a source of imaginative creativity and the Touretteshero project was born.