Accessible Arts / arts + disability NSW

Taking the Lead

Mario and Lorcan, Restless Dance Theatre.

Restless role models at NSW residency

Restless Dance Theatre, an industry leader in the field of disability arts practice, has recently undertaken a three-week residency at Bundanon, the artist in residence complex near Nowra in NSW. The Restless ensemble are working with Sydney-based Choreographer and Director Dean Walsh during the residency and engaging local community groups in dance workshops. "What's exciting about working with Dean is that he brings a set of new skills and vocabulary to the ensemble ... to push the dancers to make great work," said Artistic Director Philip Channells. While in residence, Restless Dance Theatre presented two half-day workshops with local disability service groups including Greenacres, House with No Steps, Life without Barriers, ADHC (Ageing, Disability and Home Care) and Shoalhaven Crossroads. "Working with community groups is an essential part of what we do at Restless and its through having a connection to the community, establishing partnerships and collaborations, that we find a really unique way of discovering what dance can be, it is really the grass roots of the company.” Read more: Feature

Back to Back Theatre. Image courtesy Jeff Busby.

Back to Back Theatre at World Summit on Arts and Culture

The 5th World Summit on Arts and Culture brings together national arts councils, ministries of culture, cultural policy makers and researchers, artists and community leaders from around the world. Over 600 arts policy makers will come together in Melbourne on 3 - 6 October 2011 to exchange experiences and ideas about vital issues affecting public support for the arts and creativity at a national and global level. With a theme Creative Intersections, the Summit will explore the connections between the arts and culture and the wider sectors of society. From environment to health, social inclusion, technological innovation and education, the Summit will look at how the arts can be a catalyst for change and examine the ways policy can provide pathways for these intersections. Included in the Summit is a cultural programme featuring a preview of Melbourne Festival's production, Ganesh Versus the Third Reich by Back to Back Theatre. One of Australia’s leading contemporary theatre companies based in the regional centre of Geelong, Back to Back Theatre create new forms of theatre imagined from the minds of a unique ensemble of actors with disabilities. Read more - Sector news.

Forward directions for Accessible Arts

Accessible Arts received a good response to its Strategic Planning Survey 2012 - 2014 and would like to thank all those who contributed to the survey. A range of priorities were identified from the survey, offering direction for Accessible Arts' work in the coming years. Services and programs identified as most useful by the sector in the coming three year period include: Online information about events and opportunities in arts and disability (64%); Assistance with developing arts programs (49%); Professional development groups for arts and disability practitioners (49%) and Arts and disability policy and research (47%). All information gained from the survey contributed to the Accessible Arts Strategic Planning Day on 11 May 2011. Thanks goes to KPMG for assisting with every stage of the process as part of the NDS Good Governance program. Their support provided valuable analysis of relevant trends and challenges. The final Strategic Plan for 2012 - 2014 is due to be launched in October 2011.

Forum promotes accessibility at major festivals

Festivals are increasing in popularity and continue to give expression and exposure to innovative creative arts and culture, which in turn adds greater vibrancy to communities who share in these occasions. Accessible Arts will present a forum in July, to bring festival producers together to discuss the unique challenges they face when improving access to festival events. Accessible Arts has been working closely with some of the major festivals in recent years to improve and increase access initiatives at festival events. This has delivered a range of outcomes, including major festivals presenting audio described tours, Auslan interpreted events and improved information about accessibility in printed programs and online. “The forum is an opportunity to review the progress made and discuss the challenges in common facing festival organisations when addressing accessibility, in a range of creative and cultural environments,” said Sophie Clausen, Access Coordinator, Accessible Arts. A panel of speakers will include Simon Darcy PhD, Associate Professor Events, Sport and Tourism at UTS, who specialises in developing inclusive practice for organisations. Read more - Accessible Arts news

Presenters at SAMAG's Access forum

SAMAG takes action on Access - the essential element

A dynamic conversation about disability and the arts took place at the monthly gathering of Seminars for Arts Professional (SAMAG) at the end of May 2011. Amanda Tink, Training Coordinator, Accessible Arts presented a thought-provoking perspective on the capacity for the arts to be a leader in accessibility and promoted the use of Disability Awareness Training to achieve this. Other speakers included Jenny Spinak, Program Manager, Accessibility, Sydney Opera House and Jan Barham, Byron Shire Mayor and NSW Legislative Council Greens member. A presentation was delivered on behalf of Daniel Kojta, Western Sydney based new media artist, emerging curator and recipient of the 2010 Accessible Arts Bundanon Residency. Hitch, a short film directed by Kojta posing questions about disability was screened and the seminar challenged those in attendance to consider ways to progress accessibility by stimulating action on a daily basis. A podcast of the seminar will be available next week on the SAMAG website.

Emma Johnson with Studio ARTES artist Lynda Strong

Support from the Arts for emerging curators

Emma Johnson, Art Manager at Studio ARTES and Gabrielle Mordy, Manager of Creative Events, Studio ARTES are among the winners of the Curator Mentorship Initiative (CMI) supported by Sidney Myer Fund and administered by the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA). Since 2009, Johnston and Mordy have worked collaboratively on a number of curatorial projects, broadening the profile of Studio ARTES artists to contextualise a place for artists with disability in the arts. They will be mentored by Professor Colin Rhodes, Dean of Sydney College of the Arts and Director of STORAC, a research project associated with Callan Park Gallery for Self-Taught and Outsider Art. The mentorship will focus on the development of an exhibition and symposium program, to be held at the Callan Park Gallery, Sydney College of the Arts, in June 2012.The work achieved by Johnston and Mordy at Studio ARTES has strengthened considerably in recent years. Their visual and performing arts program provides training and marketing opportunities for adults with disability in the areas of vocational and recreational arts. Read more - Sector News.

Creative Inclusive

Daniel Kojta at Bundanon 2010

Responsive approach to access at Bundanon

In 2008, Accessible Arts and the Bundanon Trust launched a bi-annual artist in residency opportunity for NSW based artist(s) with disability. This project has fostered a strong working relationship between the two organisations. Artists, Scott Trevelyan (2008) and Daniel Kojta (2010) have both undertaken a four week residency at the purpose-built studios located at the Bundanon properties on the Shoalhaven River in NSW. For Accessible Arts, the success of the residency program is largely measured by artist feedback. When each artist reflected on their experience, both expressed the positive impact that the residency had for the development of new artistic work and the furthering of their own creative networks. “The success of the residency is also attributed to Bundanon’s responsive approach to the access needs of artists, as well as providing the space to create and connect with like-minded people,” said Josie Cavallaro, Arts Development at Accessible Arts. Applications for the 2012 Accessible Arts Bundanon Residency, for a NSW artist with disability, closes 22 June 2011. Read more - Accessible Arts News

Kyra Kimpton, Prelude, Arts Activated 2010.

Dance Symposium considers new directions

A forum and masterclass event to demonstrate and expand inclusive dance practice in NSW is being presented by Accessible Arts in July 2011. Leaders and innovative thinkers in dance from across the country will share knowledge, experience and skills, to inspire new directions for inclusive dance practice. The masterclass will offer a professional and integrated creative process. The forum will be facilitated by Jeff Meiners, Lecturer of Education, Arts and Social Sciences at South Australia University and forerunner in dance and disability education and outreach programs, both nationally and internationally. Philip Channells, Artistic Director of Restless Dance Theatre will join Cathy Murdoch the Director of Ausdance and Tim Podesta the Artistic Director of Disassemble Dance Project on the symposium panel. “An opportunity to engage in critical conversation together with a practical experience of an inclusive process, will stimulate future possibilities for dancers with disability in NSW.” said Sarah-Vyne Vassallo, Arts Development, Accessible Arts. Read more - Accessible Arts News.

Tralala Blip, Byron Bay Film Festival, April 11.

Regional arts projects funding available

Applications are open for the Regional Arts Fund (NSW), one of the key funding sources for arts and cultural activities in regional, rural and remote communities of NSW. A focus of this funding is to encourage the formation of productive partnerships to support home-grown arts activities. A number of arts and disability projects in regional NSW have received this funding in the past, including Tralala Blip, a socially inclusive electronic music program for people with disabilities in Lismore, who received funding for the 2011 calendar year. Founder of the project, Randolf Reimman said, "With the funding, we now have an extra day and a half a week to cover areas that were not getting met, for the artists who really want to develop their practice, and who have an interest in contemporary electronic music and would like to participate in this global community." The Tuleen Group’s Art in the Garage, in the Bega Valley Shire, also received RAF funding for 2011, for facilitation of a 3D mural project by people with disability. "Accessible Arts encourages regional and rural arts and disability projects to apply for this funding, and can offer guidance and support with project development through the arts development team," said Sancha Donald, CEO Accessible Arts.

Events and Opportunities

• The Accessible Cinema Advisory Group second communiqué – information on the roll-out of accessible major cinema chains.

• Romeo and Juliet in Tokyo – The All Abilities Theatre Company present their latest production in Wagga Wagga.

• PUSH Creative Arts: The Main Event - Variety show of integrated performance at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta.

• Tralala Blip: The Sweetest Girl - New music film clip from the Lismore based electro collective, watched by over 1700 in its first two weeks online.

• Boonah Winter Art Exhibition - Mixed media artworks in Gallery Red showcasing a variety of works by students with disability

• Screen Australia announces audio description criteria - Both captioning and audio description will be required on all feature films applying for Screen Australia investment after 1 July 2011.

Feedback

We invite feedback and suggestions from our readers. Share your experiences of attending any of the listed events or offer suggestions for future newsletter items. Email feedback to info@aarts.net.au.

Send us your news

Contributions to the newsletter are welcome and encouraged. Listings should include the title, date, location, a short description (100 words), plus all available contact details, access details and an image (jpeg or gif format). Arts events, opportunities or news that will be of interest to people with disability, their families, friends and carers and are accessible will be published. Email contributions to info@aarts.net.au.