FEM-aFFINITY #1: Catherine Bell on inclusion and collaboration

What are the links between feminism, contemporary art and disability? FEM-aFFINITY, a new three-part podcast series, delves into this question by focussing on an exhibition of the same title. First exhibited in 2019, FEM-aFFINITY is a collaborative, female-led show. It features a series of collaborations between seven female artists who practice from Melbourne’s Arts Project Australia, a studio and gallery for artists with an intellectual disability, and seven female contemporary artists. This first episode features artist, curator and academic Catherine Bell who not only curated the exhibition, but made the collaborations happen. Bell talks about the process behind the show, as well as the subjective nature of feminism and what the word means to her. She also discusses how she became familiar with Arts Project Australia, her collaborations with artist Cathy Staughton, and what it means to break down art world structures to give a voice to marginalised artists. FEM-aFFINITY is a nationally touring exhibition, and is currently showing at Melbourne’s Bunjil Place Gallery. Exhibiting artists include; Bronwyn Hack, Cathy Staughton, Dorothy Berry, Eden Menta, Fulli Andrinopoulos, Heather Shimmen, Helga Groves, Jane Trengove, Janelle Low, Jill Orr, Lisa Reid, Prudence Flint, Wendy Dawson and Yvette Coppersmith. FEM-aFFINITY Bunjil Place Gallery 30 January—14 March Riddoch Art Gallery 22 May—4 July Benalla Art Gallery 6 August—17 October This series is kindly sponsored by NETS Victoria who are nationally touring FEM-aFFINITY, assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body. Produced and presented by Tiarney Miekus. Engineered by Patrick Telfer. Music by Mino Peric.