Shape Arts was founded by Gina Levete MBE in 1976. Since then, the organisation has changed in lots of ways, but our guiding principles and philosophies remain the same. Our heritage is hugely important, not just to us but to the communities we represent and serve through our work. Were it not for disability rights activists and campaigners, our cultural landscape would look very different.
On this page, you can browse content that explores the history of both Shape Arts as an organisation and of the wider Disability Rights and Disability Arts movements from which we emerged.
Read more about our purpose Dive deeper into our heritage projects
Banner image: Liz Crow; 1990 Block Telethon Protest. Image description: A group of people protesting are partly obscured behind behind metal fencing where are sign is affixed that reads 'Is this a cripple free zone?'. One person is holding up a long cardboard sign that reads 'Don't call us... we'll call you!'. There is a thick tall bunch of yellow balloons climbing up into the sky from the group.
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Shape’s Georgia Macqueen Black, NDACA’s Marketing Officer, tells us just how much the Archive has to offer and achieve. Read more
Gina Levete MBE, founder of Shape, talks about her memories of setting up the organisation in 1976. Read more
An outline of the four decades of change that has defined what we are today ... Read more