As stated in previous Directors reports, We Are Freewheeling Limited was originally formed to create an accessible structure that would provide a producing role for Sue Austin’s artwork. Sue Austin is an independent freelance artist with an international career and a director of We Are Freewheeling Limited (WAFLtd). She is working in the context of complex interacting physical and cognitive access needs. As part of shaping lived experience leadership, key activities undertaken by WAFLtd and Sue Austin during this period have enabled Sue and her Core Access Support Team members (mostly working within the context of complex access needs themselves) to make progress on the following Organisational Objectives:
Maintaining an emphasis on the dissemination and promotion of academic research that aims to reposition Disability Arts and the status of disabled artists within the mainstream cultural sector.
Providing a ‘hub’ around which to foster integrated arts projects and allow ideas and artistic concepts to develop
To explore/innovate appropriate financial/legal structures that can reduce the financial vulnerability experienced by professional disabled artists.
While being disability led, Freewheeling will focus on valuing the interplay between disabled and non-disabled artists and arts producers, creating spaces where mutual learning can take place.
As a result of an extended and exacting R&D process (evolving since 2014), a unique body of knowledge continues to be refined that will enable We Are Freewheeling Ltd to offer consultation services which make that knowledge and expertise available to other arts workers and organisations within the Arts and Cultural sectors, both on a national and an international level. Guided by the WAFLtd organisational objectives, the purpose in offering those services continues to be increase understanding around how organisations can offer more sensitively tailored access support strategies; thereby enabling them to extend their understanding of inclusive practice and therefore support a more diverse workforce. This continued to be refined during the 2022 to 2023 accounting period through continuing to innovate and then in testing appropriate financial and legal structures that might reduce the financial vulnerability experienced by professional disabled artists, particularly when working in the context of increasingly complex, interacting physical and cognitive access needs, especially so when those complexities are then interacting with neurodiverse cognition. That is because this ongoing experiential research has identified that those complex access needs are often not understood or appropriately accommodated by existing organisations even with in the disability arts sector. A key researcher who produced a seminal report on the arts sector and access (2010) has commented that she observes a level of cognitive ableism continues to create barriers for those artists who have cognitive access needs.
WAFLtd research has also identified attitudinal barriers continue to arise even with some educational and disability arts organisations if an artist or arts worker needs a family member or another advocate to speak on their behalf. From ongoing research and the lived experience held within WAFLtd, the need for an advocate appears to be conflated with a lack of capacity and attention to detail, especially if that results in extended timelines for delivery, is seen a problematic.
The body of evidence that continues to grow from this experiential research, undertaken by WAFLtd, suggests that attitudinal barriers around cognitive access needs, neuro-diverse cognition and learning disabilities continue to limit inclusion for disabled artists and arts workers with the most complex access needs. Investment in building this body of specialist knowledge with in WAFLtd therefore continues to be a key objective and this activity is mentioned in the context of the WAFLtd accounts because it is anticipated that this investment will ultimately create income streams for WAFLtd. It continues to be a plan, as mentioned in previous Director’s reports, that this will occur via WAFLtd offering consultation services and through WAFLtd also offering additional services when Sue Austin and her Core Access Support Team are engaging with organisations to deliver her commissions and other requests to exhibit. This has been addressed in the 2022-2023 WAFLtd activities through discussing with partner organisations the experiential learning within WAFLtd in this area and also in referencing the ‘Nothing for Nothing’ campaign being led by the UK disability arts sector. ‘Nothing for Nothing’ aims to raise awareness of the financial and attitudinal barriers created for disabled artists by such institutional expectations.
As stated in previous Directors Reports, this level of expertise arises from professional training combined with the ‘lived experience’ of managing complex impairments held by Sue Austin and by members of her Core Access Support Team. Evolving as a result of that ten year R&D programme, this expertise also continues to refine strategies about how WAFLtd and other organisations can support artists and arts workers to manage the intractable barriers that arise when existing successful access support structures and teams are disrupted. That is especially the case when that disruption arises due to lack of understanding and skill in those assessing complex and unique access needs and therefore a lack of understanding of the access support that will enable those artists and arts workers to thrive through engaging with life enhancing employment and training opportunities. A key long-term aim for the company therefore remains focused on extending these services to other creatives and, as mentioned above, using this unique knowledge to build the capacity of other arts and cultural organisations so that they might also implement innovative, accessible working methods that result in successful employment of individuals with complex physical and cognitive access requirements.
Activity:
We Are Freewheeling Limited continued to perform its core role of producing Sue Austin’s artwork in 2022-2023. That included the negotiation and management of commissions, exhibitions, Intellectual property, sales and therefore the creation of appropriate licensing & contracts. The financial accounts continue to show (as mentioned previously in the 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 Directors Reports) a limited view of the range of development work towards WAFLtd’s organisational objectives undertaken during this period. The ways in which both Sue and the company continue to operate again demonstrates an extremely effective and targeted use of the funds brought into WAFLtd through it acting as the producing organisation for Sue Austin. In the context of the health and support work related barriers experienced by Sue Austin and WAFLtd during the last three financial years, this remains a substantial achievement.
WAFLtd also continued to support further disabled arts workers to become self-employed and extend their previously limited administrative experience. This included the negotiation, contracting and delivery of international engagements; thereby demonstrably increasing their ‘social capacity’. For example, one support worker, continues to be able to work with in Sue’s Core Access Support Team because of the customised role that accommodates that support worker’s increasing physical health and energy related impairments. That approach continues to result in progress towards refining and articulating the very specialist knowledge being built up through that Action Research process. That work also continues to lay the foundation for sharing those specialist skills and that knowledge with commissioning organisations. Sue Austin was able to continue to pilot that skill sharing in order to build the capacity of a commissioning organisation alongside the event delivery that took place during her Exhibition and associated event delivery for ‘Creating the Spectacle!’ Error in formula ->#WillSheWontShe<-. It is significant for WAFLtd that this engagement built a strong connection between the goals of that organisation to support the careers of a cohort of learning disabled artists that it already supports and has also laid the foundation for the further planned joint fund raising and immersive event delivery during and beyond the 2023-24 accounting period too.
In order for We Are Freewheeling Limited to remain a going concern, the primary factor continues to be that it is able to ensure that the conditions exist for Sue Austin to work in a genuinely supported and accessible way that feeds her practice, extends innovative solutions to others, while minimising any potential negative impact on the health and wellbeing of Sue and her Core Access Support Team; especially, as mentioned previously, the majority of those team members are also working in the context of their own impairments.
In the 2022-2023 accounts year, while the impact of the pandemic was reducing for others, for Sue and her support team, the removal of the requirement to wear masks in public continued to create greater challenges and increased the restrictions on her / their ability to engage in planned activities and event delivery. This is due to the ongoing risks arising from being extremely clinically vulnerable. However, within these imposed limitations, Core Access Support Team members continued to work with Sue to refine the remote working practices already developed within We Are Freewheeling, demonstrating how those systems enabled the organisation to survive despite the restrictions that continue to have an impact on its activities in a post COVID19 pandemic world.
Furthermore, Sue continued to invest time and resources to develop the base from which she and We Are Freewheeling Limited operate. The Tesla Power battery storage, fuelled through solar generation, has become increasingly impactful due to the experimentation and the resulting knowledge which has enabled an increase in the efficient use of those renewable technologies, reducing power consumption by around 50% since 2019. That solar and battery storage combination continues to provide sustainable power to her home and continues to power the vital artistic and office equipment. Further research on the refinement of that system is ongoing and aims to implement best practice to increase the sustainability of the organisation.
The accessible location that acts as a filming stage and equipment testing site, developed in 2020-21, continues to be a constructive development and the new storage systems for equipment have also been further improved in the 2022 to 2023 period, alongside the essential maintenance programme of her unique equipment, the Fly/Dive Wheelchair. The rental of the garage for storage continues to offer an improved ability to move materials and equipment to a space suitable for continuation of archiving and inventory as well as facilitating access and preparation of equipment prior to exhibitions and installations. All these elements remain key to the sustainability of Sue Austin’s artistic practice. That is because a suitably accessible work environment, storage and maintenance of the Fly/Dive wheelchair are all essential if We Are Freewheeling Ltd is to support Sue to materialise the planned new iterations of her ongoing durational artwork, ‘Creating the Spectacle!’. As the producing organisation for Sue Austin’s artwork, the successful development and exhibition of that next iteration, the Fly/Dive Wheelchair, is seen as key to the sustainability of WAFLtd. Therefore, any aspects, such as a suitably accessible base, which will reduce and/or remove the barriers that Sue and other team members are currently experiencing in this area, remain a priority for WAFLtd too.
The importance of those recently improved storage arrangements was highlighted: prior to the installation of the exhibition at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre (20-21VAC) in November 2022; during the work for Sue to be present a 3m high by 23m long projected panorama from ‘Creating the Spectacle!’ in response to a commission from Unlimited during Art Walk Wakefield; after the take down of the 20-21 VAC exhibition in March 2023 and during to delivery and take down of an exhibition, with associated Live Art Intervention ‘Artist as Pilot is Present’, at Our Big Picture Gallery in Grimsby. That was able to occur due to links developed while at 20-21VAC and after WAFLTd supported Sue Austin to negotiate and then deliver that engagement in July 2023.
A key activity in the 2022-23 period continued to be ongoing research to find a suitable property. That is because a key organisational goal is to develop a suitable permanent studio space and ‘Freewheeling HQ’ that might also create accessible exhibiting opportunities for other disabled artists within the region and from further afield. That is especially relevant given the above mentioned relationships being strengthened with 20-21 Visual Arts Centre in Scunthorpe, Our Big Picture in Grimsby and during previous work with CEDA based in Exeter because those organisations all work with learning disabled and neurodivergent artists. The aim also remains to create a base in Devon for managing the ongoing interest in of Sue’s artwork and accessible working practices.
Alongside the ongoing search for a suitable building, extensive research has continued into how this can be financed and managed in the most accessible way for disabled artists with complex access needs. That research (ongoing since 2019), had led to the establishment of a Disabled Person’s Trust in the 2021-2022 period which is proving to be a ‘suitable vehicle’ by providing additional financial support to WAFLtd so that the organisation is able to support the more experimental elements of Sue’s artwork. After financial support from the Austin Family Trust of 2021 (AFT21) enabled WAFLtd to facilitate the purchase of a part ownership of a flexwing aircraft in the 2022-2023 year those costs have continued to be supported by AFT21. The purchase of a part ownership of the Quantum Flexwing continues to be an essential ‘safety accommodation’ that WAFLtd has made in order to enable Sue to manage the risks inherent in flight-based R&D. This purchase is continues to be justified by WAFLtd on the basis that it continues to reduce future financial costs to WAFLtd.
This is because:
It has enabled Sue to complete the minimum required bi-annual flight hours needed in order to revalidate her Microlight pilot’s license every two years.
It also enables Sue to continue to experiment with techniques and equipment in order to capture sound and video as part of the visual research that will inform the creation of the next iteration of the planned artwork.
The work of WAFLtd continued to be supported in 2022-23 by the grant in the previous year from AFT21 that covered the purchase of an iPhone 13 Pro Max. That has proved to be an accessible affordable way to obtain cinematic quality imagery and live streaming ‘on location’. As much of the flight R&D occurs in remote locations and live streaming has become the most accessible way for Sue to document this process, this has proved to be a very effective use of the funds available.
These two instances therefore demonstrate the positive impact arising from the research WAFLtd has undertaken to explore financial strategies and ‘vehicles’ which ‘reduce the financial vulnerability experienced by professional disabled artists’ as a result of working in the context of complex access needs. This work continued in the 2022 to 2023 accounting period resulting in the successful collaboration between a Disabled Person’s Trust in combination with a not-for-profit company Limited by guarantee. This enabled WAFLtd to collaborate in a partnership that continues to provide a responsive ‘financial vehicle’ that has been proved to reduce the financial vulnerability experience by artists with complex barriers. At the same time this outcome at least partly accommodates the cognitive barriers (e.g., dyslexia) that experiential research with in WAFLtd has identified can make it extremely challenging for artists with complex interacting physical and cognitive access needs to write and then successfully submit funding applications. In addition, in this 2022 to 2023 accounting period, it has been possible to evidence how this collaboration has enabled WAFLtd to support the R&D aspects of Sue Austin’s artistic practice. This is a significant step forward for WAFLtd.
Due to the ongoing restrictions on Sue’s capacity due to her ongoing immunity issues, plans to capitalise on the vast media archive and photo images will need to be revisited when Sue’s capacity increases again. But for that to occur an appropriately skilled access support worker who has undergone appropriate training will need to be in place in order to assist Sue to carry that planned work forward. However existing commissions in this period enabled Sue and the Freewheeling team to continue to disseminate that imagery to new audiences especially as a result of the artwork being exhibited during the international online exhibition. hosted by and organisation based in Brazil, from 18 May to 18 June 2023 with a contribution to an associated online webinar.
The issue with a trained supporter worker leaving in 2022, 3 years before the agreed framework in return for the role offered, is still impacting on the capacity and activities of We Are Freewheeling Ltd as anything that has an impact on Sue Austin’s capacity also has consequences for the activities that We Are Freewheeling is able deliver. As mentioned previously, the staff turnover mentioned was ‘unexpected’ because the role had specifically been offered on the basis that those concerned had a commitment to a long-term engagement both with Sue and We Are Freewheeling Ltd. This meant that the energy invested in training those support team members and the gains that those support team members were able to make on professional level (e.g., due to that specialist knowledge they acquired), were to the detriment of Sue’s position and also that of We Are Freewheeling Ltd. Consideration therefore continues to need to be given to the form of contract to be used when employing Core Access Support Team Members in the future.
The above experience continued to reinforce that the knowledge base held within Sue’s artistic practice (and therefore within We Are Freewheeling Limited as the producing organisation) is exceptionally unique, as are the strategies that enable Sue to practice in extreme environments (underwater, in the air and hopefully, in the future, in space). However, despite the challenges mentioned above, the positive re-assessment made by the Access To Work assessor in September 2022 continued to have a positive impact in the 2022-2023 financial year for We Are Freewheeling Ltd. That was because the assessment of Sue’s access needs in 2022 built on the very constructive assessment in 2019 and resulted from that new assessor understanding the essential nature of the support worker role and the exceptional economic and cultural value that continues to be created e.g., income into the UK, the related specialist employment opportunities created, and the expanded understanding of inclusive practice that results. The fact that the Access to Work assessor, Benjamin Hauxwell, had advocated strongly on behalf of Sue’s needs continued to create a positive step change through the removal of a key barrier that had impacted on her capacity since the process of engaging with Access to Work (ATW) had started in 2014.
As mentioned in the 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 Directors Reports, that increased ATW support package has also been an essential component to all the development activities detailed in this report. It also continues to be significant for We Are Freewheeling in the 2022 to 2023 accounting period, that the expertise and extended research conducted within We Are Freewheeling Limited, since Sue first experienced these challenges in 2014 with ATW, was instrumental in bringing about that successful outcome. This had to occur through an incremental accretion of knowledge garnered through lived experience. Therefore, as mentioned previously this process has developed key knowledge-based assets for the company that it does plan to utilise in future years both as a potential consultancy revenue source, but also to support a whole range of creative people with complex access requirements. That process has already started through advice and support that WAFLTd was able to offer to organisations who engaged with Sue and exhibiting aspects of her work.
The support provided by We Are Freewheeling Ltd was an essential component in facilitating this activity and enabled Sue to produce and deliver these new iterations. The Directors believe this continues to provide evidence of the efficacy of their current focus in supporting Sue’s work in order to generate world class, exciting opportunities for other disabled artists and arts workers working in the context of complex access needs. This evidences the opportunities that are created for others when We Are Freewheeling Ltd is able to support Sue to achieve her ambitious and groundbreaking artistic endeavours. This activity and further requests for Sue to exhibit her 360º installation in 2023/24 supports the continuation of We Are Freewheeling Limited as a going concern.
We Are Freewheeling Ltd also aims to support Sue to pursue other opportunities curtailed by the pandemic such as a request to work with Levell Centre. However, in the 2022 to 2023 period We Are Freewheeling Limited continued to suffer a reduced income due to the lack of income from the loss of its producing role in postponed activities and due to the significant impact on Sue’s capacity that continued as a result of the unexpected staff turnover and due to challenges for her health when interacting with members of the public due to underlying health issues.
Notes to the Financial Statements:
It remains disappointing, but not surprising to note the increased deficit of reserves at 31 August 2023. As described elsewhere in the report, this is the result of the ongoing challenges created Sue’s Clinical Vulnerability that remains since the pandemic, meaning that the ability of We Are Freewheeling Ltd to support Sue and deliver her engagements continued to be severely curtailed. As stated in 2019 to 2020, the 2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022 Directors Reports, ‘Only with the financial support of director Sue Austin does the company continue as a going concern. Sue remains committed to ensuring We Are Freewheeling Limited is able to continue operating as she knows this is a unique position due to ongoing health concerns and does not reflect the success of previous years since our incorporation or the opportunities arising in the future.’ We continue to recognise that personal financial support from Sue is not a long-term sustainable position. Although, as expected, those challenges continued into 2022-2023, the solid groundwork (made possible by the ATW award that has stabilised Sue’s practice and her ongoing research) is in place for the company to progress a range of revenue streams. The Directors continue to consider funding strategies to support the company’s post-COVID recovery and also organisational development in order that we can capitalise on the opportunities already in development, to deliver our objectives and return to a successful self-sustaining business model.
There remains a compelling case for support as it is recognised that our work represents sought-after knowledge, informed by lived experience of complex barriers, that addresses current priorities to make the arts and cultural sector more inclusive to multiply-marginalised artists and arts workers.
The average number of persons, including directors, employed by the company during the year was as follows:
We Are Freewheeling Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 12 High Street, TORRINGTON, Devon, England, EX38 8HN.