This year NCBI’s Possibility Lab is linking in with our friends from across the globe to celebrate International White Cane Day on Friday 15th October. Over 22 blind and low vision music artists will perform as part of the online collaboration, White Stick Fest which celebrates the achievements of blind and low vision community members.
Chantelle Smith NCBI’s National Access & Mobility Manager said “We are thrilled to share this free accessible event with people across Ireland. International White Cane Day’s focus has shifted since its early beginnings from the safety white canes provide to recognising the importance of independence and equality in accessing the community. We hope that this event will continue to spark conversation not just around how people who are blind or vision impaired get from A to B, but the entire journey and what that means for everyone, everyday, everywhere”
Duncan Steward, the owner and founder of Platinum Cre8ive said “We are excited to bring together headline blind and low vision artists like local performers Michael Leonardi, Rachael Leahcar from The Voice 2012, Lara Nakhle from The Voice 2017, and International performers, The X Ambassadors, Andrea Begley, Diane Schuur and the Airmen of Note, Cobhams Asuquo and Tom Sullivan. The power of White Stick Fest is our ability to connect high calibre artists with communities all over the world. We are trying to make White Stick Fest as accessible and inclusive as possible, delivering world class performances right to your device.”
White Sticks Fest will also feature performances from sighted contemporaries, including Magic Giant, The Wiggles, Rick Price, Joan Belgrave and Georgia and the Vintage Youth.
The event is hosted by Platinum Creative and Vision Australia Radio. Supporting the inaugural White Stick Fest as an event sponsor is tour operator Cocky Guides, who specialise in presenting destinations for blind and low vision travellers.
To access White Stick Fest on Friday 15th October please follow the link and play the YouTube video from early morning at https://www.whitestickfest.org/