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.

Lindy Morrison, drummer for The Go-Betweens from 1980-1989 is a passionate woman. Her tireless service to the Australian music industry as a performer and advocate was rewarded with the Order of Australia on Australia Day 2013. One of Morrison’s longest gigs, 20 years and counting, has been as musical director of The Junction House Band. Formed in 1987 the band has a full rock line up with musicians on drums, bass, electric and acoustic guitars, keys, harmonica, violin and vocals. 

In December 2012, Milk Crate Theatre was announced the winner of the Macquarie Group Foundation Australian Social Innovation Award for its contributions through theatre to the homeless communities of Sydney. Milk Crate Theatre is a not-for-profit theatre company established in June 2000 to connect the homeless community to the arts as a means of addressing mental health issues.

More Australians with disabilities will soon be able to enjoy the Boxing Day tradition of going to the movies, reported the ABC news on 26 December 2012. A very positive story quoted Senator Jan McLucas on the progress of the access to cinema roll out.

The concept of crowdfunding has been around since the late 1990s, though only recently has it taken off thanks to social networking in all its different platforms. Filmmaker Matthew Walker is using crowdfunding to finance a film project called We Happy Few, a story arising from his work at the NIDA open program and his experience of the disability community through the life of his brother, who has an intellectual disability.

As part of the celebration of International Day of People with Disabilities, Sydney Opera House has launched the top four Festival of Dangerous Ideas (FODI) 2012 online talks with closed-captions.

Accessible Arts supports an increase in subsidies available to people with disability under the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme. A survey has been developed to gain further information on how people with disabilities are using taxis.