Venezuelan art festival expands inclusion for people with disabilities

Daniela Vielman and several organizations launched the second edition of DiverFest, an international art and disability festival in Venezuela.

The event provides a space for people with disabilities to engage in theatrical creation and artistic expression. The festival grew from a small project into a three-week event featuring workshops, performances, and a virtual classroom. Participants including Arianna Ortegano, a 20-year-old actress with Down syndrome, attend workshops to practice teamwork and concentration.

These activities prepare them for public performances, such as a dance-theater piece titled "Trenzados por muchos hilos" featuring 20 people with disabilities. The festival also includes immersive workshops for parents and performances by regional groups like Macandá. The initiative started through a cooperation project between the French Embassy in Venezuela and a civil organization. It now includes support from the European Union and various partners.

To reach more people, the festival added a virtual classroom where people across the country can join workshops led by artists from Argentina, Colombia, and Spain.