Accessible Arts / arts + disability NSW

A new survey, Arts Programs/Projects for People with Disability, has revealed a pleasing quantity of arts programs for people with disability that is sadly not matched by appropriate delivery.

This comprehensive survey is the first of its kind to be undertaken in NSW. Accessible Arts NSW, the peak body for the arts and disability sector in the state, invited 806 organisations and individuals to participate in the online survey, of which 22% responded.

Presenting the findings of the survey at the recent National Disabilities Services (NDS) conference in Sydney, Accessible Arts CEO Sancha Donald was heartened to see that arts programs are a growing priority for disability service providers. However, the majority of programs are delivered by non-arts practitioners, in non-arts specific spaces. Additionally almost all of the programs are non-integrated.

‘Ideally we can use the information uncovered in this survey to encourage the disability sector and the arts sector to partner more creatively for the appropriate delivery of arts programs,’ says Ms Donald.  ‘It would be far better practice all round if a visual arts class was delivered by someone with a background and training in visual arts, and so on.’

The concept of integration could also be applied more broadly reading from the survey results.  ‘Integration need not only mean a mix of people with and without disability in one program,’ continues Ms Donald. ‘It can be as straight forward as services approaching the local gallery or arts centre for appropriate spaces to run a program, for example working with the local theatre for delivery of a drama program – rather than running a mixed media workshop in the kitchen.’

Accessible Arts NSW undertook the survey to canvas the current situation and identify the gaps and barriers that restrict the choice of involvement in creative programs for people with disability. It is hoped the results will be of use as a planning tool for both government and the disability sector. An additional survey may be undertaken within 2 to 3 years to chart changes.

In other results the Arts Progams/Projects for People with Disability survey found that while services using new and current artforms such as digital media were on the rise, creative writing was rarely offered. The majority of arts programs are offered to people with intellectual disability with the younger proportion of this demographic (19- 25 year olds) having the highest uptake. Not surprisingly the issues of adequate funding and access to suitable venues ranked high as concerns across the board.

‘Varying degrees of improvement can be made to present learning experiences for the participants of these programs,’ concluded Ms Donald ‘with the outcome of a greater appreciation of and meaningful participation in the arts for people with a disability.’

An executive summary and full copy of the Arts Progams/Projects for People with Disability survey can be found on the Accessible Arts website.

For further information or comment on the survey contact Sancha Donald directly on 02 9251 6499 ext 102.

For further information about this release contact:

Tracylee Arestides, Marketing & Media Coordinator P: 02 9251 6499 ext 101 M: 0425 208 521 E: marketing@aarts.net.au

Survey on arts uptake reveals dearth of professional practitioners (Word, 115KB)