Sol Express in the Time of COVID-19: Reflections from a Creative Arts Participatory Research Project
Disability in the Time of Pandemic
ISBN: 978-1-80262-140-2, eISBN: 978-1-80262-139-6
Publication date: 26 January 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Stay-at-home and lock-down orders issued by the Ontario government at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of many community-based programs for people labelled/with intellectual disabilities. L'Arche Toronto Sol Express, an interdisciplinary arts program located in Toronto, is one example of a program that rapidly changed its program delivery to an online format so that participants could remain engaged and collaborative projects could continue. Similarly, participants had to adapt to new programs with virtual formats, and to accessing programs from their own homes as opposed to gathering with others in the community.
Methods/Approach
To reflect on these changes, Sol Express members and creative facilitators together conducted a participatory research project which considered the impact of the online format on individual participants and the group as a whole. Following the principles of emancipatory and participatory research, a research team was established and focus groups were held to explore people's experiences.
Findings
Our findings suggest that while there were many difficult aspects to the pandemic, people also experienced situations of learning and growth. However, our project also points to issues of inequity in the pandemic's effects, such as the inability for technology to incorporate diverse communication methods, and concerns regarding members of the extended community who remain disengaged or ‘lost’ due to a lack of technological and personal support.
Implications/Value
Although our research focused on an arts group for people labelled/with intellectual disabilities, our findings can be applied to the broader community, especially regarding the benefits of in-person gathering and what is lost when programs are held exclusively online.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgments
Research Team
Natalie Breton has been working and volunteering at Sol Express for over 20 years. She is currently in the role of Artistic Assistant at Sol Express Toronto with L'Arche Toronto. She brings extensive experience with her from having worked as an actor/creative facilitator in theatres both nationally and internationally.
Maya Findlay studied Theatre Production at Metropolitan University. She specialized in arts management and costume, with a minor in dance. She joined Sol Express in 2018 for their production of Birds Make Me Think About Freedom and is honoured to be part of this team. Maya lives in Toronto with her partner and dog, Toast.
Irene Pollock is a theatre artist based in Toronto. Recent projects include Sol Express productions Journey to the Greatest Gift, Red Nose: A Play on Words, and Birds Make Me Think About Freedom, as well as the Importance of ROI video. She has performed in musicals including Grease, and has led creative workshops at the University of Toronto. Irene works at The Coffee Shed.
Matt Rawlins has been an artistic facilitator at Sol Express since 2010. As part of its creative performance team, he has staged theatre productions including Birds Make Me Think About Freedom and Red Knows: A Play on Words, both of which have featured at the Toronto Fringe Festival, and has contributed to several community art exhibits, including the Disabilities Arts Showcase at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Matt is involved with various art-based collaborations in Toronto, including audio, visual, film, print, photography and design work.
Kathleen Woo is an artist, musician, photographer, swimmer and athlete who loves spending time with dogs, family and friends. She has won numerous awards including the Debbie Burns Memorial Award (2018–2019) and Athlete of the Year (2013–2014). Kathleen is part of the L'Arche Toronto Sol Express community where she creates art.
Cheryl Zinyk is the co-founder of Sol Express, L'Arche Toronto, a multidisciplinary arts program for artists who have an intellectual disability. Cheryl has consulted with academics engaging in community-based research for social change at McMaster University School of Social work, and at Metropolitan University School of Disability Studies. She is trained in voice, clown, improvisation, and community-based theatre facilitation.
Co-researchers
Rachel Boardman is a theatre artist, dancer, swimmer and dedicated part of the Coffee Shed team. Rachel has a black belt in TaeKwonDo and won two silver medals at the 2018 Canadian Special Olympics. Rachel loves the art of performing, has been part of Sol Express for many years, and has performed numerous times at the Toronto Fringe Festival.
Naomi Cho loves to move and dance. She has competed at national and provincial levels in rhythmic gymnastics and competes in Special Olympics swimming and alpine skiing. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, watching movies, going out to eat, Zumba and dancing. She is looking forward to living independently with her friends in the future.
Robert Gray is a Toronto-based actor. He has performed at the Toronto Fringe Festival in Seasons, Birds Make Me Think About Freedom, and Red Knows: A Play on Words. Robert does voice-over work and was consultant for blind and partially-sighted artists in the production In Between. Robert co-facilitates workshops for positive change. A skilled cartographer, Robert is interested in history and geography and enjoys listening to basketball, baseball, football and hockey on the radio.
Nicholas Herd is a founding member of L'Arche Toronto Sol Express and has a love for art, performing, hosting and creating. Nicholas was Creative Director for Freebird, an animated short film long-listed for the Academy Awards. He has worked with Dramaway and Soulpepper Theatre, and has been featured on Innowave, Employable Me, and CBC Gem's You Can ' t Ask That. He created and hosts The Disability Channel's Keeping It Real with Nick, and currently works with L'Arche Canada in communications.
Andreas Prinz is an actor, playwright and advocate from Toronto. Over the last 19 years, Andreas has trained and performed with George Brown, L'Arche Toronto Sol Express, Rare Theatre Company, and Drama Way. Andreas performed at the Toronto Fringe from 2017–2020. Andreas is currently working on his play Anthony's Journey, supported by the Ontario Arts Council.
Citation
Burghardt, M., Breton, N., Findlay, M., Pollock, I., Rawlins, M., Woo, K. and Zinyk, C. (2023), "Sol Express in the Time of COVID-19: Reflections from a Creative Arts Participatory Research Project", Carey, A.C., Green, S.E. and Mauldin, L. (Ed.) Disability in the Time of Pandemic (Research in Social Science and Disability, Vol. 13), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 175-192. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-354720230000013010
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023 Madeline Burghardt, with Natalie Breton, Maya Findlay, Irene Pollock, Matt Rawlins, Kathleen Woo and Cheryl Zinyk. Published under exclusive licence by Emerald Publishing Limited