When you take part in an art project, you very rarely get to see behind the scenes – especially at the beginning. Since this whole project (and the other commissions in The Space) are a bit of an experiment, we thought it might be fun to share the application detail with you – you could all most follow along then, seeing – like us – if we stay on track or stray off into unmapped territory!

So this was our 50 word summary on the application form:

PUSH ME is an invitation into the journey of 12 Unlimited artists. An opportunity to simultaneously build and broaden audiences whilst deepening relationships with context, process and impact. Through short films, a documentary and a rich media interactive blog, this project will build momentum and leave legacy.

Ohh err, so there you go – building momentum and leaving legacy!

We went into more detail too, elsewhere on the form:

PUSH ME aims to radically increase and diversify the audience for the work of the artists making the Unlimited commissions: raising the profile of the artists involved and propelling the Unlimited element of the Cultural Olympiad beyond the ‘traditional’ framing for disabled/Deaf artswork.

I suppose what we meant by ‘traditional framing’ was the fact that often work by disabled artists is seen as ‘different’ or ‘other’ or ‘niche’ – only of interest to a small group of people. We don’t agree with that – we think the work is fab and that anyone who comes to it can be engaged.

Unlimited is a project at the heart of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad that celebrates disability, arts and culture on an unprecedented scale. We will use this opportunity to articulate a new set of rhythms – a change in attitude, perspective and approach.

Sarah Pickthall (the other curator working on PUSH ME) and I are slightly obsessed with the idea of syncopation – putting an emphasis on a usually unemphasised beat. That’s what we want to do through PUSH ME – change the rhythm a bit and shake things up.

What else did we say? We commented on how we reckon Unlimited has a real chance to make a difference – not just to the artists involved, but to the sector too. And how we want to be part of that:

The vision is audaciously ambitious – the shifts and realisations created through Unlimited have the power to change the way in which disability and creativity are viewed. We want to use The Space to amplify these syncopated rhythms throughout the cultural sector, changing the way in which the ambitions of disabled and Deaf artists are met and the ways in which future work is realized and enjoyed.

So at least we were clear about the size and scale of what we have taken on – it’s enormous! Now the question is – can we deliver it? Only one way to find out… watch this Space! (I’ve wanted to say that for ages)