Navigating a Freelance Creative Career as a Disabled Artist with Meg Fozzard

Girls Twiddling Knobs

It’s not easy growing a career in the arts but it’s down right tough if you’re living with a disability too. In this episode, Isobel is joined by journalist, digital producer and disabled rights activist Meg Fozzard to discuss the challenges disabled artists can face, the things the industry can do better and strategies Meg has developed over the years to grow her career whilst having a disability.

Inside, you’ll gain some really practical knowledge on things like access riders and funding but also hear how it felt for Meg to become disabled right after she’d graduated from university and was starting her career in the arts. Whether you’re a disabled artist, temporarily able artist or working to make music and the creative arts more inclusive, this episode is a must listen.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

{00:00} Intro
{05:02} Meg’s experience as a Producer
{06:51} The importance of recognising disability as being fluid
{10:16} Meg’s story of becoming disabled after graduating university
{19:18} Meg on how becoming disabled has impacted her work
{22:36} Meg’s advice to freelancers navigating the creative industries
{30:06} What is an access rider and how to write one
{33:57} ​​Where are the creative industries getting things right in relation to disability access?
{35:24} Meg on her experience producing the podcast Equal Too
{39:28} How can able-bodied individuals support their disabled peers?
{42:16} Meg on the Access to Work scheme
{44:08} Organisations helping people with disabilities in the creative sector
{46:35} Episode Summary

Find out more about Meg Fozzard >>

Check out the charity Drake Music >>

Find out more about the UK government’s Access to Work scheme >>

Check out the Disabled Artists Networking Community >>

Ready to level up your music making with the powerful art of field recording? Download my new FREE Essential Gear Checklist to Start Field Recording With Your Smartphone >>

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Girls Twiddling Knobs is hosted by Isobel Anderson, produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey and is a Female DIY Musician Production.
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Chapters

1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. Meg’s experience as a Producer (00:06:16)

3. The importance of recognising disability as being fluid (00:08:05)

4. Meg’s story of becoming disabled after graduating university (00:11:30)

5. Meg on how becoming disabled has impacted her work (00:20:32)

6. Meg’s advice to freelancers navigating the creative industries (00:23:50)

7. What is an access rider and how to write one (00:31:20)

8. ​​Where are the creative industries getting things right in relation to disability access? (00:35:11)

9. Meg on her experience producing the podcast Equal Too (00:36:38)

10. How can able-bodied individuals support their disabled peers? (00:40:42)

11. Meg on the Access to Work scheme (00:43:30)

12. Organisations helping people with disabilities in the creative sector (00:45:22)

13. Episode Summary (00:47:49)