Following the success of the audio-described Tactile Tour program in 2010, Sculpture by the Sea are partnering with Accessible Arts to offer people with vision impairment and people with intellectual disability the opportunity to engage with art in a hands-on guided experience.
As part of an agreement to support festivals to develop accessibility, Accessible Arts has provided training to Sculpture by the Sea staff for the third consecutive year. Twelve staff from all sections of the organisation attended three hours of Disability Awareness and Access training to further embed accessibility practices throughout their organisation.
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.
Nastasia Campanella is a Sydney based freelance print, radio and online journalist who also happens to be blind. She recently attended one of the audio described tactile tours presented by Sculpture by the Sea in partnership with Accessible Arts and reported on the experience.News
Festivals develop a culture of access
Accessible Arts hosted the Festivals Forum in July 2011, to review access for people with disability at festival events throughout NSW. Representatives from fifteen festivals large and small, and supporting arts organisations, gathered at the Utzon Room at Sydney Opera House to attend the three hour forum.
Sydney Festival, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Sydney Fringe Festival, the Biennale of Sydney, the CountryLink Parkes Elvis Festival, among others contributed to a ‘round table’ workshop to exchange ideas and perspectives on accessibility at festivals. A range of speakers with and without an experience of disability generated topics for discussion, framing areas for development, further research and action.
Guest speaker Bruce Maguire, Policy Officer with Vision Australia shared his personal experiences of access and disability, as well as a broader community perspective, discussing the collective sharing that festivals offer in our relating to the “unfolding stories of our culture”. Bruce also addressed some of the myths that surround people with disability and their desire to engage in different art events.
Associate Professor with the Business School at University of Technology Sydney, Simon Darcy spoke about developing an access culture within an organisation. He defined accessibility for people with disability providing a “cool festival experience” without the hassle. Simon presented several best practice examples of access initiatives.
Alastair McKinnon, Strategic Analyst with Screen Australia, talked about recent developments in funding criteria regarding the production of Australian films and their provision for audio description.With the growing popularity in film festivals across the country, his presentation reflected the cultural shift towards accessibility in the film industry, supported by the recent government and industry partnerships, to realise accessible cinema across Australia.
"The three speakers were great," said Susana Ng, Manager, Social Planning, Access and Community Development at the City Of Sydney.
"It was particularly important for our event team to hear the speakers personal perspectives of disability, a good balance between factual information and personal insight."
Sophie Clausen, Access Coordinator at Accessible Arts organised the forum with support from the Sydney Opera House and the City of Sydney.
"The Festival Forum forms part of an ongoing process of education and inspiration for leadership in access to the arts," she said.
"Audio recordings and transcripts of the presentations are available online as well as a summary of workshop responses to offer ongoing support to organisations who are embedding access into their core business."