Swell Festival to showcase works from artists with disabilities

The annual Swell Sculpture Festival is back on the Gold Coast and it's helping launch the careers of artists with disabilities.

Transcript

00:00As the sun rises on the Gold Coast, incredible art begins to emerge.

00:07For 10 days, more than 60 sculptures from 350 artists will dominate Corumban Beach.

00:14But one piece has a difference.

00:16I don't want people to think that it's made by people with disabilities,

00:19I want them to think that it's made by artists.

00:21Fiona Haynes runs Monte Lupo Gallery.

00:24It employs 16 artists living with a disability.

00:27Every single person in the studio creates or is crucial to the final piece.

00:33For the past four years, the gallery has given Miles Barabas a paycheck and a creative outlet.

00:39I have a strong work ethic and I don't really want to be lazy and not work.

00:48With 150,000 visitors expected, Swell Sculpture Festival is a big opportunity.

00:54Ten years ago, renowned artists Clayton Blake was just getting started.

00:59You really don't feel worthy, you suffer from an extreme case of imposter syndrome.

01:04His work has since made it to Burning Man, the largest outdoor sculpture festival in the United States.

01:11Swell for me is an incredibly transformative festival.

01:15It was really what launched me internationally.

01:18But it's not just for professional artists.

01:21Valerie Jones won last year's Swell Festival while balancing full-time work and two young kids.

01:27The art world can be quite pretentious and exclusive and there is absolutely none of that here.

01:33She says anyone can follow in her footsteps.

01:37It has completely given me this opportunity to express my ideas and thoughts.

01:43While for many artists Swell has been a career gateway to bigger and better things,

01:48for others it's just a chance to show off a bit of creative flair.

01:53I'm just happy to see it at the moment getting purchased.