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Presentations
Majella Flanagan, Falling Up.
Image courtesy Any Bright Ideas.
DISABILITY ARTS – AN ARTS HISTORY PERSPECTIVE
Majella Flanagan, UK
Presentation via Skype
Ideas, issues and strategies to address the barriers that prevent emerging and professional artists and arts workers with disability from realising their ambitions and developing their practice. A presentation of findings from a year-long study of the Disability Arts Movement in the UK and Ireland, pioneering a model of art analysis that can be applied to marginalised artworks. Themes include: moving artworks into a mainstream arts discussion; placing works on an equal footing with mainstream arts practice; enriching traditional art history and cultural production with alternative ideas and styles.
IS IT NORMAL ANY DIFFERENT?
Tony McCaffrey, NZ
Presentation
Based on five years practice with Different Light Theatre Company and the theoretical and practical questions of McCaffrey’s Ph D research, The Politics and Aesthetics of (Intellectual) Disability Performance, this paper will have a practical basis. Using video of rehearsal and performance, it investigates the aesthetic and political possibilities for collaboration between people with and without disability in theatre and questions assumptions. The paper will be co-presented by Isaac Tait, performer, A Difference Light Theatre Company.
ACCESS IS ALWAYS ACCESS TO AN EXPERIENCE
Rick Randall, VIC / Sarah Tracton, NSW
Presentation
The Other Film Festival aims to provide a universally accessible experience for all patrons. Since the festival’s inception in 2004, it has fundamentally changed the approach to access. It no longer starts with the question: “What access services should we provide and what services can we afford?” Now the festival team starts with a radically different question: “What are the desirable experiences that everyone wants access to when they go to the cinema or film festival?”.
Duncan Meerding, Learning Leaf Table
THE PRACTISING ARTIST PERSPECTIVE: PRACTISING AS A LEGALLY BLIND FURNITURE DESIGNER
Duncan Meerding, TAS
Presentation
Duncan will present a paper discussing access and practice in the field of design for a person who is vision impaired (legally blind). The presentation will outline the experiences from the perspective of a student who is blind, and this experience will be related to arts’ practice and disability access in more general terms. Themes will stimulate discussion regarding art, craft and design practice and access, particularly in the field of Higher Education. Adaptive technologies and bridging techniques will be a primary goal of the presentation.
THE PRACTISING ARTIST PERSPECTIVE: TOO BISSI FOR BOREDOM OR LONELINESS
Scott Trevelyan, NSW
Presentation
Since opening in 2006, Willowbank Studio has been running fortnightly workshops for members of the Brain Injury Support Service Incorporated (BISSI). Scott Trevelyan facilitates guided, therapeutically oriented art workshops, working with qualified art therapists where possible. The workshops aim to bring people who live with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) together in a safe, creative environment to participate in art activities designed to facilitate self-expression, self-awareness, self-esteem and healing, whilst targeting individual needs. A further aim of the group is to support participants to connect with others who share similar experiences and understand the impact of ABI on functioning and general daily living. All art activities are designed to assist participants focus on being present in the here and now.
TO BE OR NOT TO BE EXCELLENT
Janelle Colquhoun, QLD
Presentation
Would we expect Stevie Wonder, van Gogh or Beethoven to be less than excellent? Are we using “disability” in our marketing and promotion as the excuse for being something less? Janelle Colquhoun outlines her international performing career, the impact of blindness and her entertainment and production agency, specialising in professional artists with a disability. Through the production of over 900 mainstream and disability events, she discusses her tips for the marketing and promotion of excellence.
INTIMATE ENCOUNTERS, PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAY
Belinda Mason, NSW / Kath Duncan, NSW
Presentation
Intimate Encounters is a beautiful and powerful photographic exhibition about sexuality and disability. Forty participants from across Australia and internationally collaborated with photographer Belinda Mason to create this landmark work in order to challenge the hidden norms about what is "sexy" and who among us is allowed to feel that way. Intimate Encounters toured Australia extensively for seven years and has been shown in London, Barcelona, New York, Toronto and NZ. The presentation will examine the frame work that was created to allow the exhibition to reach its success.
ART OF DIFFERENCE FESTIVAL: A CASE STUDY
Lesley Hall, VIC / Crusader Hillis, VIC
Presentation
Art of Difference is Australia’s premier international Deaf and disability arts festival. The festival occurs biennially and takes place in Melbourne, Victoria. There have been five Art of Difference festivals since 2001. Since 2006, the focus has shifted from community arts to being an international event in the Deaf and disability arts sector with the aim of providing professional pathways for Deaf and disabled artists and arts workers. Through a visual and video presentation, AOD Chair Lesley Hall and Executive Producer Crusader Hillis describe AOD’s unique arts practice.
RAD: ACCESS, EXCELLENCE AND PRACTICE
Jamie Conroy, NSW / Dean La Spina, NSW
Presentation
Response Art and Design, a professional screen printing and training studio in West Gosford NSW, maintains a professional business and training environment where industry standard training in the Visual and Graphic Arts prepares talented young adults with mild disabilities on the NSW Central Coast to access realistic employment goals in the arts and to access the arts in the community. The presentation will cover the processes and practices in professional screen printing and graphic design, industry standard arts training and community connections to address barriers to artistic development and practice, and ethical business practice and a brief outline of the history of Weasel Surf.
RAW LAW – ACCESSIBLE LEGAL PROTOCOLS FOR PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY
Adam Rozsa, VIC / Rebecca Laubi, NSW
Presentation
The Raw Law project is the development of a suite of accessible legal information, and resources, for people with a disability who are involved in the arts. Whether you are a recreational or professional artist with a disability, or an artist who experiences mental health issues, or even an organisation that facilitates arts-based projects, this project has something to offer you. The outcome of this project has been to provide people with a disability who engage in arts practices, an empowered, informed position for their own decision-making. In clear succinct ways, Raw Law gets to heart of legal issues such as copyright, publications, authorship, photographic protocols and intellectual property. Raw Law, a partnership between Arts Access Victoria and Arts Law Centre of Australia, aims to create a greater awareness of arts law issues amongst artists with disabilities.
DEVELOPING A MAINSTREAM AUDIENCE
Sue Roff, VIC
Presentation
Over 35 years, Arts Project Australia has seen hundreds of artists participate in its unique workshop program, and held countless exhibitions in its own gallery. Last year saw the sale of more than $150k work of artwork on behalf of its artists, who regularly receive invitations to exhibit and participate in a range of initiatives – locally, nationally and internationally. How have they developed their extensive audience. What strategies have worked and what haven’t? Join Executive Director, Sue Roff, to explore their learnings.
DISABILITY LED VIDEO AND ANIMATION PROJECTS
Philip Griffin, SA / Trisha Ferguson, SA / James Kurtze, SA
Presentation
The Tutti Ensemble is a recognised leader in community cultural development and disability culture in South Australia. In 2007, Tutti Arts started the digitech training program for young people with intellectual and learning disabilities. The program explores the possibilities of using digital technology to develop skills and produce artwork in various digital media including animations, documentaries and music-videos. Tutti artists are engaged across all aspects of the production. The digitech program facilitates collaboration between artists, for example a musician and two visual artists are working together on a music video, and involves all sectors of the Tutti Arts program including visual and performing arts. Two Tutti artists and the lead artist will show an exciting range of work and discuss how the work was created.
VENUE ACCESS - GOOD PRACTICE MODELS
Renée Goossens, NSW / Linda Cardew, NSW / Craig Rogers, VIC
Presentation
The use of performing arts facilities along with the planning and delivery of arts and cultural facilities is a daunting task, both for users with disabilities and for the government authority. Understanding the needs of the arts user and the constraints of major infrastructure projects presents significant challenges. On the delivery side, the scale, complexity and cost of the project, the competing community and political interests, the maze of legislative challenges, and the expectation that “best practice” in social, environmental and economic areas will be achieved, prevent many projects from even starting. If these projects do get underway, how then does local government also address its many planning, design, management and operational policy objectives?
NATIONAL ARTS & DISABILITY STRATEGY - WHERE TO FROM HERE?
Gareth Wreford, NSW
Presentation
The Cultural Ministers Council National Arts and Disability Strategy is a multi-year framework for the Australian Government and state and territory governments to support access and participation in the arts. The Strategy names a great many relevant issues for artists, audiences and cultural organisations though without a significant budget commitment to address them what real hope is there of change? This presentation will discuss the Strategy and approaches being taken to support its implementation.
REMOVING THE OBSTACLES - ACCESS & HERITAGE
Gareth Wreford, NSW
Presentation
What are the responsibilities of cultural organisations located in heritage buildings to provide access by people with disability? The ‘Removing the Obstacles’ research project lead by Accessible Arts NSW with project partners Arts Access Australia, The Arts Law Centre of Australia and UTS Shopfront has identified key issues and ways to develop solutions to improve access. This discussion will leave you with a practical understanding of current access issues and solutions for heritage buildings.
RESTLESS DANCE THEATRE - WORKING TOWARDS EXCELLENCE
Philip Channells, SA
Presentation
Restless Dance Theatre presents real opportunities for young emerging and professional artists to collaborate on stunning, engaging and innovative new work. Restless is Australia’s leading dance company that works with young disabled and non-disabled dancers mostly between the ages of 15-27. The company does not rely on using highly trained technicians to perform the work. Rather they engage young disabled people who predominantly (not exclusively) have a learning impairment and who are highly expressive in other ways. Often it can be an advantage to have a disability at Restless. For people who are less comfortable vocalising, movement is the best alternative to put across an idea. Using movement people can be eloquent without words, they can contextualise and inform the work. They can add layers and dimensions that, for example, a ballet-trained dancer may not have. The work of the company exists in three board areas of activity: Youth Ensemble, Education (community workshop program), and the Professional Ensemble.
ACCESS TECHNOLOGY IS MAINSTREAM NOW!
Alex Varley, NSW
Presentation
Arts access is now benefiting from worldwide technology developments. This presentation shows a range of technology that are, and can be used by arts organisations and artists alike to bring disability access to the fore. Discover that a Chatterbox is a best friend, Dingoo is a blind person's everywhere companion, home captioning a click away, and 3D movies are already accessible, in this presentation packed with real world examples to beg, borrow or steal.
THE DEAF ARTS NETWORK - CONNECTING PEOPLE
Ross Onley-Zerkel, VIC
Presentation
DAN (Deaf Arts Network) began 8 years ago as a small network, established in recognition of the extremely limited opportunities for Deaf artists, and for Deaf people to participate in the Arts. DAN was embraced and auspiced by Arts Access Victoria and slowly grew over the years to develop an ever-expanding network of Deaf arts enthusiasts, Deaf Artists and positive role models.
DO TOUCH THE ART - A MUSEUM & GALLERIES PERSPECTIVE
Michael Donnelly, VIC / Danielle Gullota, NSW
Presentation
What is the nature of arts access if you are blind and living in an Australian city or internationally? What options and possibilities are open to people who are blind or have low vision to access and enjoy what most of the art-going population take for granted? The presentation will consider the state of access to the “visual” arts in Australia by people who are blind or have low vision and what is occurring overseas.
THE VALUE OF ARTS PROGRAMS IN DISABILITY SERVICES
Kelly Milne, NSW / Peter DeNatris, NSW
Presentation
The presentation focuses on a qualitative study conducted on how creativity is facilitated within a range of creative arts services for adults with disabilities across the Sydney metropolitan area. A qualitative method was used including both observation and interviews followed by a basic theme analysis. The study found qualitative evidence to support the intrinsic benefits of participation in creative arts to people with disabilities.
WHOSE BUSINESS IS IT ANYWAY? - CROSS SECTORIAL PARTNERSHIPS
Criena Gehrke, VIC / Judith Sears, VIC / Eilis Hughes, VIC
Presentation
A cross-government approach to the complex issue of cultural participation of people with a disability can be a powerful framework for change. Office for Disability, Arts Victoria and Disability Services discuss their partnership and illustrate how three departments, with different objectives but a shared vision, can work together to have a positive impact.
DISABILITY ARTS & QUALITY
Sue Williams, UK
Presentation
Explore the relationship between policy making, funding and strategic development in the context of disability equality and disability arts. How can we use the arts and creativity reposition notions of equality and innovation in the disability field? Highlighting how notions of quality and equality are inextricably linked, the session will delve into these theme using footage from Arts Council England’s decibel performing arts showcase.
MENTORING STRATEGIES & TIME: ALLIES FOR EXELLENCE
PJ Rose, SA / Duncan Luke, SA / Julian Crotti, SA / Kelly Vincent, SA
Presentation
No Strings Attached Theatre of Disability has developed a creative mentoring strategy that pairs an emerging disabled performer with a professional theatre worker. The theatre group have devised eight short theatre duets in this way, four under the banner 2connect, and four with the collective title Tempted! The 2connect duets performed at the 2006 Adelaide Fringe Festival, winning a Fringe Critics nomination for “Innovation and Excellence.” Tom the loneliest from Tempted! won audience and critical raves in its 2009 Adelaide and Melbourne seasons.
ARTS PROGRAMMING FOR PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY: 3 MODELS EXPLORED
Gabrielle Mordy & Emma Johnston, NSW / Natalie McCarthy & Anne Kwasner, NSW / Gaye Fleming, NSW
MCJosie Cavallaro, Accessible Arts
Presentation
Speaking from an arts-worker perspective, each panelist will present a model for facilitating access to creative possibilities for people with disability. Each speaker will establish the origins, development and growth of their program, including key milestones that have led to further opportunities for their artists / participants or organisation. This panel will also examine the challenges and frustrations experienced within each model and possible strategies to ensure a sustainable future such programs.
SECRET LIVES OF ARTISTS WITH DISABILITIES
Samantha Connor, WA / Melissa Noonan, VIC
Presentation
Creating and presenting work can be challenging for many artists with a disability. Melissa Noonan, co-founder of Limbs 4 Life and Samantha Connor, visual artist, present case studies, work with an audience to develop ways to ‘break down the barriers’. Both presenters are people with disability; Melissa is an amputee and Samantha has limb girdle muscular dystrophy
AVATAR IN THE DREAMHOUSE: THE NATIONAL DISABILITY STRATEGY IN FOCUS
Bruce Maguire, NSW
Presentation
The National Arts and Disability Strategy is a timely and important initiative that resonates with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to form the basis of an artistically and culturally inclusive society. This presentation will use personal experiences to highlight why the Strategy should be seen not so much as a set of aspirational goals or boxes to be ticked on project completion, but, rather, as an invitation to partnership and co-creation between arts organisations, arts professionals, and people with disabilities. From this perspective, the Strategy cannot be isolated from everyday moment-by-moment life, and while this perspective is a challenging one, it allows us to harness the Strategy as an avatar of change and transformation at both the personal and community level.
YOUR EXCELLENCE WE PRESENT HUNGER
Kate Sulan, VIC / Paul Mately, VIC / Rachel Edward, VIC / Jacque Robinson, VIC
Presentation
Rawcus Theatre Company is an ensemble of performers with and without disabilities. In 2007 Rawcus and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presented a collaborative work Hunger at the Melbourne International Arts Festival. Rawcus and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra both strive for artistic excellence in their work. The presentation will explore how excellence was sought through the development of Hunger stretching both Rawcus and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in challenging and complimentary ways.
WAYS OF SEEING DIFFERENTLY
Helen Nicholson, NSW / Anni Turnball, NSW / Nick Gleeson, NSW
Presentation
The Living in a Sensory World: Stories from people with blindness and low vision exhibition affords the wider community an opportunity to glimpse what it’s like to be blind or have low vision. Accessible and inclusive public programs for all Museum visitors regardless of sight were developed. The About Face public program that challenged visitors to create a self portrait using touch was a great success at raising public awareness of the challenges faced by people with blindness or low vision. The exhibition was a joint presentation between Vision Australia and the Powerhouse Museum.
BUILDING A SOCIAL NETWORK OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY - EXPLORING ART AS A MEDIUM
Damien Griffis, NSW
Presentation
By any measure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability are amongst the most disenfranchised members of the Australian community. They often face multiple barriers to their meaningful participation within their own communities as well as the wider community. The Aboriginal Disability Network as the new national peak organisation representing Aboriginal people with disability seeks to be a voice of and for Aboriginal people with disability. This presentation will outline how the new social movement of Aboriginal people with disability is progressing and the important role that art can play in giving a voice to Aboriginal people with disability.
INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTS PARTICIPATION: BEST PRACTICE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS
Kim Dunphy, VIC
Presentation
Increasing opportunities for people with a disability to participate in the arts: assisting local government and other service providers to develop capacity. This paper will present findings from Cultural Development Network’s recent work investigating ways that arts participation of people with a disability can be increased: what individuals believe needs to happen for their experiences to be improved, how organizations have successfully met those needs, and how individuals and organizations have creatively tackled the challenges they face.
Panels
DEDICATED FUNDING FOR ARTISTS WITH A DISABILITY - IS THIS THE WAY FORWARD?
Gaelle Mellis, SA / Clare Tizard, SA / Frank Panucci, NSW
Facilitator: Sue Hunt, CEO CarriageWorks
Panel
Panelists representing a range of funding models will discuss the philosophies behind their programs, illustrate recent outcomes and debate whether dedicated funding is the way forward to achieving excellence for artists with disability.
INTEGRATED DANCE: INVESTMENT AND TRAINING
Rafael Bonachela, NSW / Philip Channells, SA / Gaelle Mellis, SA / Jo Dunbar, SA
Facilitator: Erin Brannigan, Founder of ReelDance & Lecturer (Dance), University of NSW
Panel
Panelists speak from national and international perspectives to share experience in modes of investment or training in integrated dance. The panel aims to uncover the milestones essential to sustainable integrated dance practice and the challenges facing the development of an Inclusive Australian Dance Future.
EXCELLENCE - WHAT IS IT ANYWAY?
Jane Trengove, VIC / Daniel Kojta, NSW / Sharon Flanagan, VIC
Panel
Jane Trengove asks the question: What is excellence? And what is its relevance to artists (with and without disabilities), their practices, careers and their lives. Do artists with disabilities have to be “better than, to be equal to” mainstream arts practitioners. Are there qualities or concepts developed by artists with disabilities that may go unrecognized by mainstream decision makers in the arts sector? Jane will be accompanied on a panel by Sydney artist Daniel Kotja, and Melbourne artist, Sharon Flanagan to address these and other questions.
AVOIDING THE STEREOTYPE - REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY IN FILM AND TV
Genevieve Clay & Eleanor Winkler, NSW / Gerard O'Dwyer & Tracie Sammut, NSW / Amy Laybutt, NSW / Michael Winter, NSW
Facilitator: Alison Richardson, Accessible Arts
Panel
This panel will explore issues surrounding the representation of people with a disability on Film and TV and how to avoid stereotyping. The Mindframe National Media Initiative will be highlighted as an example of a project that works with scriptwriters to truthfully and fairly represent people experiencing mental health issues.
WHAT MAKES AN ACCESSIBLE FESTIVAL?
John Bayley, NSW / Rick Randall, VIC / Craig Rogers, VIC
Facilitator: David Finnigan, Co-Director, Crack Theatre Festival & Production Manager, Canberra International Music Festival
Festivals are often programmed over short periods and in temporary or non performance specific venues. This panel will examine how festivals can deliver best practice access for all artists and audiences from upper management through to the box office.
Workshops
BREAKING BARRIERS: DISABILITY AND EXCELLENCE
Rachel Gadsden, UK / Rebecca Fawcett, UK
Workshop (Rachel will be presenting via Skype)
A workshop based on the Breaking Barriers project developed in the UK by the Parliamentary Outreach, to engage people with mental health issues about the role of parliament. Rachel Gadsden, an international visual artist with a disability was commissioned for the project and will offer practical examples of creating artworks on the topic. The question of how to achieve excellence when exploring difficult subjects with participants with disability will be a focus, including how participants can develop their own programs and achieve excellence. Showcases a project that has now been extended and developed into a national program of engagement for 2010.