True Colors Festival History

In Asia, people with disabilities are often seen as in need of support and their public exposure is limited. However, we have met many artists with disabilities who strive for the highest expression.

In 2006, with the aim to provide opportunities for these artists to express themselves on stage and change the public perception on disabilities, we organized the first festival in Laos and Vietnam.

The festival took place again in 2008 in Cambodia. More than 8,000 audiences enjoyed the performances of 128 domestic and 85 foreign artists with disabilities were invited from 6 Asian countries.

The festival continued in Myanmar in 2013. Stakeholders were worried that seats would be filled for its first arts festival for the disabled. But, during the three days the venue was very exciting.

The number of visitors during the three days was 4,900.
More than 10 famous singers and entertainers performed without reward, singing and dancing with disabled artists on the stage.

In 2014, 168 artists selected from 9 ASEAN countries performed in Myanmar, and the total number of visitors exceeded 6,500 in four days.

168 ASEAN artists, including traditional dancers using wheelchairs, pop dancers with hearing impairment, and rock bands with visual impaired musicians, performed both in Naypyidaw and Yangon.

A team of Japanese deaf drummers was invited as a special guest to perform a traditional drum session.

Artists from different Asian countries became acquainted, and artists from different countries performed collaborative performances and dances.

More than 100 artists with disabilities from 22 nations performed on stage of Singapore Indoor Stadium and OCBC Square, and approximately 10,000 people attended the 3-day program.

Not only did artists with disabilities from different countries collaborate with each other, but they also worked with various artists and performed together on stage.

With these 10 years, we learned performing arts deepens the experiences for both the audience and performers as they meet in actual space and can bring awareness and trigger change in perceptions.

On stage, collaborations between individuals of different abilities, gender, age, language and nationality are possible, and can achieve compelling expressions that captures the hearts of many people.