Bringing together a number of disability led arts organisations, universities, galleries and museums from across the UK, the project aims to preserve, digitise, and make public significant works of art and items that have been important to the disability arts movement.

The Disability Arts Movement and associated materials are an important part of the cultural heritage of this country. With many of the existing identified items at risk, it is vital that they are preserved for generations to come. The archive will help to capture an understanding of the historical influence of Disability Arts and the social struggles of the movement in changing attitudes towards disabled people.

Development funding of £99,600 has been awarded to help Shape progress their plans to apply for the full grant at a later date.

Carole Souter, Chief Executive of Heritage Lottery Fund, said: "We're delighted to be giving initial support for Shape's ambitious and thoughtful plans to tell the story of disability arts – a story that has never been properly told before now. This is particularly timely after last September’s inspiring Paralympics and we hope that as the project develops it will tap into and build on the legacy of London 2012."

The project aims to work with and mentor disabled and non-disabled volunteers to collect, preserve and catalogue artefacts. It will capture oral histories of key protagonists, and establish and promote an on-line digital archive to engage with communities all over the UK. This will be complemented by a series of exhibitions, events and an education programme to reach communities all over the UK.

Tony Heaton, Chief Executive of Shape said: "This is the first disability-led collection and archive in the world and will be truly unique, for the first time the achievements of disabled artists will be properly documented and our rich history will be told."

Notes to editors

A first-round pass means the project meets HLF criteria for funding and HLF believes the project has potential to deliver high-quality benefits and value for Lottery money. The application was in competition with other supportable projects, so a first-round pass is an endorsement of outline proposals. Having been awarded a first-round pass, the project now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award.

On occasion, an applicant with a first-round pass will also be awarded development funding towards the development of their scheme.

Shape is a disability-led arts organisation. Shape's key aims are to see: more disabled people as arts audiences; more disabled people employed in and leading the arts; and more disabled artists producing high quality art.

NDACA is a partnership of disability arts organisations, education organisations and heritage organisations set up for the sole purpose of managing the National Disability Arts Collection and Archive.

Further information

Shape: Jeff Rowlings on 020 7424 7342, email: jeff@shapearts.org.uk .