Our story
The Chronically ill artists network #ChronicallyIllArtistsNetwork or CIAN (pronounced sea-ann) was co-founded by Louise Wildish and Tilly Branson in early 2021 having worked in the arts for over three decades, both with lived experience of chronic illnesses.
CIAN is a national organisation that supports chronically ill artists, producers and arts professionals, as well as those wanting to work in the arts.
Funded by Arts Council England, the work is a mixture of regular remote meet ups, training and development, symposiums, artistic collaborations and change making campaigns. Learn more
What we do
We work nationally to provide support, opportunities, information and advocacy to or for chronically ill disabled artists, producers and arts professionals who currently work, want to work, or have previously worked in the arts. We work as individuals, and as a collective and with organisations on strategic campaigns that make a positive change to the lives of chronically ill disabled arts professionals.
Gallery
"My worst fear is being 'seen' as weak. Trust me I am anything but that. Living with a chronic illness/disability means I'm certainly not weak.”
Anon
“Being part of this network gives me some hope that change is coming. I am good at what I do, I just need a little bit more support”
Anon
“I have hidden my disability and chronic illness for so long because the arts isn't designed for the chronically ill. I worry where my next gig will come from if I am 'out'.”