In 2020, SAORI Weavers of the world were looking forward to meeting in Japan in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the birth of SAORI Weaving.

The celebration did not happen in 2020 as Covid-19 led to the need for social distancing and the stalling of international travels.

After more than two years of Covid-19, we try to come together physically or in cyberspace to appreciate one another’s artwork, explore how it leads to simple pleasure, satisfy our creative instinct, maintain our mental health and wellness, and find out how it is a creative job that pays and leads to independent living. SAORI promotes inclusion and expresses diversity. SAORI is not a disability art but art for all. SAORI weavers are bonded to one another as collaborators in a liberating process often taking place in a collective setting of the Hiroba.

So, in this gathering which is hybrid, actual, and in cyberspace, we shall be having a grand exhibition, online fashion shows, and an online conference where we shall share the various facets of SAORI. It will be taking place at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre from 1st September to 9th October 2022.

I）SAORI, Arts and Their Implications on Independent Living
The Article 19 of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities from the UN Human Rights describes the right of persons with disability to live independently which focuses on the right to choose, to decide and to take responsibilities.The implementation of such rights overseas often means that the persons with disabilities return to their communities to live with the necessary support and access in everyday life and not bounded to hostels or institutions. Have we in Hong Kong progressed too slowly in this aspect? Indeed, the issue can be discussed from many perspectives: here we are doing the first steps to discuss independent living related to SAORI, inclusive arts, fair trade, self help organizations or even SLASH.

Time: 24 / 9 / 2022 六 Sat 3pm - 5pm (GMT+8)

Moderator: Clayton Lo Keng Chi

Speakers：
▍Tomoatsu Kayano
President of Fair Trade Town Sapporo, Chairperson of Fair Trade Hokkaidon and professor in Hokusei Gakuen University

▍Peng Yujiao
Director of Development, Beijing Tongzhou BEST Social Work Institute

▍Eve Yeung ( Diverse Talent)、Chung-man Ho (Ken) （Project Manager, Jockey Club Artspiration Academy）
Jockey Club Artspiration Academy St. James′ Settlement Rehabilitation Services

▍Charlotte Chow
Marketing & Production Development Officer, The Salvation Army Heng On Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation Service

II) SAORI in Reconstruction after Natural Disaster, SAORI in Therapy, SAORI and Well-being
The SAORI movement is international. SAORI weaving is used in the reconstruction and “recovery” in areas of natural disasters, particularly the tsunami affected. It was also introduced to Vietnam with persons affected by Agent Orange used by Americans were in the War in Vietnam in the 1970s. For the SAORI weavers, SAORI free weaving brings a sense of achievement, wellness and self expression. It is definitely therapeutic and can be part of the textile art therapy movement formally used by professional art therapies.

Time: 24 / 9 / 2022 Sat 六 7:30pm - 9:30pm (GMT+8)

Moderator: Mandy Ma

Speakers:
▍Camola Valarezo
Independent Visual Artist and Art Therapist from Ecuador

▍Higashiyama Takashi 　
Director of Tsunami Craft, Certified social educator of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and board member of NPO Saori Hiroba

▍Isambert Mami
Associate Professor, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Yamato University, Japan.

▍Choi Ka Ling, Gallery
Supervisor of Jockey Club Yee King Care and Attention Home for elderly with visual impairment in Tung Wah Group of Hospitals

▍Maria Pang
Registered art therapist

III) Leadership in Inclusive Arts
In all activities related to persons with disabilities, participation by them is a must. However participation can be of different levels – from nominal consultation to varying ways of consultation without control of the management or artistic choice. This is how leadership becomes the issue. The participants of the session will look into the different facets of leadership - from representation, to diverse leadership mode and possibilities.

Time: 25 / 9 / 2022 Sun 日 3pm - 5pm (GMT+8)

Moderator: Nanxi Liu

Speakers:
▍Takehi Hideyasu
Chairperson of Kagayaki no Kai, a Specified Non-Profit Organization

▍Anthony Cheung
Hong Kong Deaf filmmaker and organising committee member of the 11th Hong Kong International Deaf Film Festival

▍Clayton Lo Keng Chi
Poet, Curator of the 6th and 7th Touch Art Festival and author of A Brief History of Touch Art in Hong Kong

▍Joyce Lee Nga Yu
Artistic Director of Mind the Gap, England’s leading company working in partnership with artists with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism.

▍Janet Tam Mei Hing
Executive Director, Something To Aim For, UK.

IV) Inclusion, Diversity and Accessibility
What is inclusion in theory and practice? Inclusion may not even be the best word to describe the process and the world we want to live in. Embracing diversity does not only mean the embracing of persons with and without disabilities but people with all kinds of differences. A diverse panel presents their thoughts on the topic.

Time： 25 / 9 / 2022 Sun 日 7:30pm - 9:30pm (HKT)

Moderator: Mok Chiu Yu

Speakers:
▍Tsukishima Shino
Executive Director of Sukishima Sino from "Trance ☆ Project"

▍Tim Wheeler
Theatre-maker, arts consultant and lecturer based in the UK

▍Rebecca Martinez Santos
Founder and executive Director of St Francis Integrated Arts School, founder of Saori Philippines, also known as the Saori Hands of Love (an affiliate of Saori Hiroba) and Appointed Executive Director of VSA arts Philippines

▍Chung Wing Kin, Chan Yuk Yee, Chan Tsun Kit
Representatives of Chosen Power (People First Hong Kong)

▍Nanxi Liu
Project manager, Centre for Community Cultural Development

▍Eileen Lu
International Affairs and Development Director, Eden Social Welfare Foundation

▍Ja'el Batyah Hatch
Artist and owner of Studio Tiferet HaYetsirah

Language：Mainly in Cantonese with English, Mandarin, Japanese and Hong Kong Sign Language simultaneous interpretation
All sessions are held at Hong Kong time ( GMT+8 )

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