15mm Films aims to further the artistic expression of disabled people and to challenge perceptions of disability. We are a collective of disability artists and fellow travellers working in the field of visual, performance and video art. We aim to employ disabled people throughout a project’s structure: as artists, technicians, producers, administrators, camera crew etc. We commit to working and exhibiting in accessible environments.

15mm Films believe that disability art presents a challenge to the disinterestedly ‘objective’, evolutionary narratives of artistic production. The essence of this challenge is the disabled artist’s own physical difference from what is considered to be the norm. We feel that disability presents a mandate by which to critique and challenge what contemporary art can be as well as to radically question the figure of the artist. 15mm Films re-approriates and subverts stereotypes of disabled people.

15mm Films require organisations – particularly public funded ones - to provide access to their buildings and events. Furthermore, we believe that disabled artists should be exhibited and commissioned in mainstream galleries and institutions. We would like to extend our endeavours beyond the confines of specifically funded ‘Disability Arts’, to also present work in and for mainstream galleries and institutions.

Click here to read the transcript of a conference paper given by Aaron Williamson on the philosophy behind the 15mm collective.