Trish Wheatley is Chief Executive of Disability Arts Online. Working in the arts sector since 2005, Trish has developed a passion and specialism in working with and supporting disabled artists. She worked as a curator at Holton Lee, Dorset, then as a freelancer, which included co-producing Sue Austin’s internationally recognised ‘Creating the Spectacle!’ featuring the artist performing in her underwater wheelchair.
Trish joined Disability Arts Online in 2011, growing the organisation to become a leading content producer, talent incubator and force for change in the arts and cultural sector, alongside founding editor and disabled artist Colin Hambrook. They share a passion for understanding and recording work made from the lived experience of disability and are committed to seeing the work recognised more widely in the arts and in society.
Trish is on the strategic board of John Hansard Gallery, Southampton and the acquisitions committee of NDACA (the National Disability Arts Collection and Archive), Bucks New University. Trish was awarded a BEM for services to disabled artists during Covid-19 in the 2021 New Year’s Honours. Trish is co-lead for the Disability in British Art research group with Ashokkumar Mistry.
