Accessible Arts / arts + disability NSW

Accessible Arts is delighted to announce support from the Australia Council for our integrated dance program Catalyst Dance. Accessible Arts CEO Sancha Donald welcomes the grant of $30,000 saying "The funding of Catalyst Dance 2013 will provide an opportunity for dancers with physical disabilities in NSW to explore their abilities in a safe yet challenging environment."

Accessible Arts North Coast has identified a need for more disability awareness and access training in the arts context for our region to improve access for all. To this end Accessible Arts NSW is providing training on the 29th and 30th of May, with Amanda Tink & Sophie Clausen of Accessible Arts NSW at Lennox Head Community Centre.

Accessible Arts 2012 Annual Report is now available for download. Chairperson Emeritus Professor Sharman Pretty is impressed by the depth, breadth and reach of our organisation. In her first year as Chairperson of Accessible Arts, Pretty noted “The ongoing achievements of Accessible Arts would not be possible without its many supporters and volunteers, and without the tremendous dedication of its staff.”

Unlimited UK was a strand of the The Festival of the World, London 2012 Festival, which encouraged Deaf artists and artists with disability to take risks to create work that is not just unlimited but exceptional. The Festival of the World took place at London’s Southbank Centre from the 1-9 September 2012.

Disability awareness training is useful for people working at any level of an arts organisation, or in arts policy or practice.  It provides a practical understanding of disability in an arts context with information and skills relevant to all venues and types of work including festivals and public events.

Competition : Western Sydney : Deadline 19 Sept 2013 : AbleFest is a new short film competition showcasing the skills and talents of people with disabilities.

Call out : National : Closing 1 August 2013 : Entries from young emerging artists are now open for the 2013 Lloyd Rees Memorial Youth Art Awards.

Call out : National and international : 26 July 2013 : Entries to the 13th annual small sculpture prize are now open.

Classes : Windsor : Starting 16 July 2013 : Enrolments for Term 3 dance and drama classes at Hawkesbury Regional Gallery are now open.

Call out : Northern Rivers : 2 July 2013 : Entries for the Heading North Short Story Competition for local young writers are now open.

Call out: National : Closing 1 July 2013 : Entries for the 66th annual art prize are now open.

Gaele Sobott Ph.D has published essays, numerous children's books for the African market, and short stories, including a collection called Colour Me Blue. She has taught literature, English language, gender studies and creative writing at university, TAFE and in community organisations. Her most recent publication is My Longest Round: the Life Story of Wally Carr.

What kind of creative life do you want for Sydney? The City of Sydney is asking everyone in our community this question as they develop the City of Sydney’s first Cultural Policy.

Minister for the Arts, George Souris, and Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, Andrew Constance, have announced The 2013 Arts and Disability Project Funding grant recipients, where funding totaling more than $520,000 was awarded to support projects that promote inclusion and access to the arts for people with disability.

Minister for Disability Services Andrew Constance announced the first round of Living Life My Way (LLMW) Ambassadors and Champions last week. Under the Stronger Together 2 program, the six Ambassadors and twelve Champions representing various regions around the state, will help raise community awareness about disability reform in NSW.

A national response has developed in the arts and disability sector this week following the release of the Government’s Creative Australia Policy on 13 March. The policy outlines a progressive vision to increase access to arts and culture for all Australians, yet trivializes the contribution of artists with a disability to the arts and cultural landscape of Australia. In a movement led by Arts Access Australia, artists, individuals, groups and organisations are being urged to send addressed letters to members of parliament.

The Russell Way Mid North Coast Residence, is an inclusive art project to be presented by Life Without Barriers in Nambucca Heads throughout 2013. The project won $19,000 funding from the Regional Arts Fund, and is the only project targeted towards people with disability in regional NSW to receive the federal funding.