Follow the Dragons Relaunched for Plymouth Art Weekender
Initially conceived for the British Art Show 9 in 2022, “Follow the Dragons” is an exciting interactive project by Manifest artists Gabi Marcellus-Temple and Louise Rabey. Relaunching this month as part of the Plymouth Art Weekender, two new dragons have been added to the hoard. We see the return of dragons Rocky and Rollo, with dragons Boxer and Mirabelle being introduced. Rocky lives at KARST Gallery with his friend Herman. Rocky is a wheelchair user and Herman helps him when he needs it. Rollo lives at the Levinsky Gallery at the University of Plymouth. They have social anxiety and often find it difficult to be in busy situations. Boxer the dragon lives at The Box and is neurodivergent. Mirabelle lives at MIRROR and she is visually impaired.
The project is a tour of major art venues across the city, where people can go around the exhibitions and follow the route around Plymouth to understand what it is like to navigate the exhibitions as a disabled person. Each dragon has a different disability and routes have been designed as each of the dragons engage with the art across the various exhibitions and the city.
Often, people without disabilities will be unaware of the potential access barriers to experiencing events, so Follow the Dragons gives everyone the opportunity to experience this for themselves. The project challenges each of us to reconceptualise how we see disability and helps to raise awareness when it comes to access considerations or potential stumbling blocks; something of benefit to audiences and venues alike.
Follow the Dragons offers a different approach to engaging with the art across the city, providing a fun and game-like experience, whilst educating us about more serious issues at the heart of accessible event planning.
Kindly funded by Plymouth Octopus, Follow the Dragons has enabled Gabi and Louise to work in consultation with disabled artists Daisy Higman and HiP.P as paid consultants, each with lived experience of different disabilities. In a world where those with disabilities often feel unheard or not listened to, through their Follow the Dragons project, Manifest has sought to amplify the voices of the disabled.
On Sunday 20th October, you will have the opportunity to meet with both artists Louise Rabey and Gabi Marcellus-Temple as they take you on a guided walk of one of the routes. Meet at 2pm outside The Box. The routes are published on the Follow the Dragons website and this will remain in place after the close of the Plymouth Art Weekender festival.
Manifest are also working in collaboration with Creative Curiosities SW in November to put on a range of workshops for neurodivergent people. Participants will be able to learn how to better advocate for themselves and their access needs through a range of drawing, dance and writing workshops. Creative Curiosities SW is a neurodivergent-led company that runs regular creative and performing arts experiences for the neurodivergent community and Manifest is thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate on this project.
Contemporary Art Membership Platform (CAMP), a member-led support and professional development network for artists, arts workers and other creatives which collectively champions and promotes doing, making and sharing contemporary art across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, is also supporting Follow the Dragons. CAMP is particularly focussed on inclusion, equality and diversity and as a member-led organisation with over 200 members, their support on this project has been key.
Follow the Dragons is going to be a great asset to Plymouth and we are excited about how the project will open doors for those unsure of how they can access the amazing array of art across our great city.
You can find out more about what Manifest artists Louise and Gabi are doing by visiting their websites, www.gabimarcellustemple.co.uk and www.louiserabey.com.