The first International Disability Art Festival 2024 will begin at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka on Friday.
The two-day festival, jointly organised by Dhaka Theatre and British Council with the support of Sundaram and Institute of Informatics and Development, will feature theatre shows, film screenings, exhibitions, seminars and others.
Dhaka Theatre president and festival director Nasir Uddin Yousuff made the announcement at a press conference held at the Nasrul Hamid Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital on Sunday.
Nasir Uddin Yousuff read a written statement and talked about the festival at the press conference.
Sundaram, a theatre platform for persons with disabilities, has been working to spread arts among the disability communities across the country and around 240 artistes with disabilities will showcase their talent at the festival, said Nasir Uddin Yousuff.
Besides, director programmes Bangladesh, British Council, David Knox; IID chief executive officer Syeed Ahamed and festival member secretary Wasim Ahmed, among others, were present at the press conference.
Nine branches of Sundaram from across the country will stage nine theatre productions while Jana Sanskriti: Centre for Theatre of the Oppressed from India will stage a play at the festival.
Social welfare minister Dipu Moni will be present as chief guest while deputy high commissioner and development director of the British high commission in Dhaka Matt Cannell, Graeae Theatre Company artistic director Jenny Sealey, Nasir Uddin Yousuff and David Knox will be present at the inaugural ceremony.
The festival will end on April 27.
