DaDaFest marks 40th anniversary with new CEO appointment

Disability arts charity DaDa has celebrated its 40th anniversary with the appointment of Zoe Partington as its new chief executive officer. The announcement coincided with the launch of DaDaFest International 40, held at Liverpool’s Unity Theatre.

Founded in 1984, DaDa has championed equality and access for disabled artists in the arts and culture sector. As an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation until at least 2026, the charity has expanded its programming and board, solidifying its future with this leadership appointment.

Zoe Partington, an international consultant and speaker on Disability Art and accessibility, brings a wealth of experience to the role. Alongside her new position, she is co-director of Disordinary Architecture and has collaborated with institutions such as Tate Modern and The British Library. A practising disabled artist, Zoe’s work draws on her lived experiences of sight loss and chronic conditions.

Under Zoe’s leadership, DaDa will continue its mission of delivering impactful disability and Deaf arts programming. The flagship DaDaFest International will return in March 2025, marking its anniversary with the theme ‘RAGE – A Quiet Riot!’

She said: “As a disabled woman in a leadership role I feel honoured to follow other strong political disabled women form the North. 

“I believe as disabled people we should not let fear hold us back from striking out and being at the centre of decision making in the cultural sector - our voices are often ignored, we will change this together in partnerships and with allies. 

“I am so fortunate to have an amazing team and board.”

Over four decades, DaDa has made significant contributions to social change and advocacy, influencing accessibility policies and collaborating with institutions including Liverpool City Council and the Liverpool Everyman Theatre to promote inclusivity in the arts.

Robert Martin, DaDa chair, added: “DaDa is turning 40 years old this year and we are looking forward to celebrating that legacy with DaDaFest International 40 in March 2025. 

“Its subject, Rage, captures the feeling amongst deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people that, whilst much has been achieved and should be celebrated, we’re still too often left out of conversations that are about us and that impact on us.

“With her brilliant track record as an artist, activist and consultant on creativity and inclusive culture, Zoe Partington brings a rare combination of skills which, we feel, will carry DaDa forward into our next phase as a leader in, and instigator of, those very conversations. 

“Zoe is a hugely respected and talented person and, on behalf of everyone at DaDa and also our funders, we’re very much looking forward to seeing where she’ll take us next.”

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