Accessible Arts / arts + disability NSW

Taking the Lead

Jennifer Stockins, AART.BOXX committee member &
textile artist

Exhibition gateway to engage in the Arts

A dynamic series of public programs for the exhibition Framing Gravity is being presented by Accessible Arts as part of AART.BOXX 2011. These programs will be held over the two week duration of the exhibition at SCA Gallery, Sydney College of the Arts, the University of Sydney. "Framing Gravity's public programs series provides an opportunity for AART.BOXX artists to be a part of a wider arts community,” said Jennifer Stockins, textile artist and active member of the AART.BOXX committee. “This year an invitation has been extended to SCA Jewellery and Object Design students to collaborate in the wearable art workshops Taken to Heart, alongside participants from disability services and the greater community.” In this workshop, internal organs become the theme for wearable sculpture through externalising the interior and imagined places in our own body. The idea was created by Jennifer and committee member Rebecca Scrioli, as a response to themes of body that threads through the exhibition and in particular the work of Melbourne artist Kristy Sweeney and her Organ series. Read more - Accessible Arts news.

Disability Awareness and Access Training, Maitland
Regional Art Gallery, July 2011.

Arts organisations making access happen

Accessible Arts supports a range of arts organisations in their ongoing commitment to develop and strengthen accessibility. Maitland Regional Art Gallery, the Museum of Sydney and the Sydney Festival are among a growing number of organisations that are prioritising a culture of inclusion within their organisations and throughout the events and programs they present. “Embedding accessibility into the culture of an organisation can happen in multiple ways,” Amanda Tink, Accessible Arts Training Coordinator explains. “Disability Awareness and Access Training offers the knowledge needed to improve access and Disability Action Plans offer practical ways of implementation, tailored to the goals an organisation is striving to achieve. Reviewing and refreshing both on a regular basis ensures accessibility is part of the core business of an organisation.” The Museum of Sydney is demonstrating active engagement in prioritising the needs of people with disability. Accessible Arts presented training on the delivery of audio description of exhibitions for patrons who are blind or with low vision at the Museum in July 2011. Read more – Accessible Arts news

Drumming to our own beat, Alstonville Showgrounds,
IDPWD 2010

Creating North Coast connections

With support from the NSW Government Family and Community Services, Accessible Arts will undertake a capacity building project in the North Coast region of NSW commencing this month. The Creating Connections: Arts and Disability North Coast project will be modelled on Accessible Arts' successful Western Sydney project, a community strengthening initiative that linked the arts and disability sectors in that region through a range of initiatives and partnerships. The project covers thirteen local council areas including Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Greater Taree, Hastings, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Nambucca, Richmond Valley and Tweed. A new regional Arts and Disability Officer, the first in the state, will be created for the North Coast project and a local project partnership group will be drawn together to support and guide the initiative. With successful funding from Community Builders NSW, the three-year project will further develop and support inclusive practice for both creative and audience participation by people with disability across the broader North Coast region. Read more - North Coast project.

Have your say on a National Cultural Policy

A new National Cultural Policy for Australia, the first in nearly 20 years, is being developed by the Australian Government and everyone is invited to have their say. The policy will be based on an understanding that a creative nation produces a more inclusive society, by encouraging our ability to express, describe and share our diverse experiences. This is an opportunity to consider significant changes to the way we all work, enjoy and participate in Australia's arts and cultural life. Commenting on the National Cultural Policy discussion paper is an opportunity to reinforce the aspirations of people with disability as artists and audience and promote full inclusion, access and cultural opportunities in the Arts for people with disability. "Whether or not you work in the arts and culture sector, your views on the goals and strategies in the discussion paper are important. These will help to set a 10-year strategic vision underpinned by tangible action to ensure our arts, cultural and creative endeavours resonate with a 21st century Australia," states Minister for the Arts, Simon Crean.

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. Sophie Clausen, Access Coordinator at Accessible Arts organised the forum with support from the Sydney Opera House and the City of Sydney. "The forum was 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 and workshop responses are available online to offer ongoing support to organisations who are embedding access into their core business."

Creative Inclusive

Tim Hancock, Ever After Theatre ensemble member

Project provides access to physical theatre

The Rozelle based performance ensemble Ever After Theatre Company have joined forces with Legs on the Wall Physical Theatre and multi-media artist Sasha Cohen for a series of professional development workshops and to explore online platforms as a space for performance. Ever After Theatre Company is an emerging ensemble of young performers with intellectual disability who are currently in a long phase of development for their next group devised show about games and power. With support from Arts Start 2011, Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre and Queen Street Studios, ensemble members were exposed to a range of new skills to broaden their performance making process. Simone O’Brien, Artistic Associate for Legs on the Wall, facilitated the workshops. Expanding her approach to offer a spontaneous and inclusive process enriched the experience for herself and for the ensemble members on a number of levels. “It was really fascinating to play with the participants expectations of what their bodies can and can't do, each with their own unique stories to tell, their own ways of moving and their own ways of seeing,” Simone said. Read more – Sector news.

Gallery celebrates diversity in the Arts

Penrith Regional Gallery & the Lewers Bequest continue to offer a vibrant inclusive program of events for a range of audiences. Opportunities are currently open for people with disability to showcase art, video and performance, as part of Sizzle 2011, an inclusive arts festival presented throughout November and December 2011 at the Gallery. Centred on access, equity and celebration, this is the third annual Sizzle Festival to include an art exhibition, performances, film, dance, inclusive workshops and tours. A call out for committee members to assist in the production of this event is now also open. The Gallery also offers an ongoing inclusive education program for general audiences including visitors with disability, special interest groups and senior groups. This program provides an interactive experience of Gallery tours using a range of interpretive strategies for visitors with specific access needs, including sensory tours, audio description and access to art making workshops. Situated on the banks of the Nepean River at Emu Plains, the Gallery is about an hour’s trip from Sydney CBD by car.

My Animals, Matthew Phelan, St Lucy's Photographic
Exhibition 2011.

Exhibition of 100 languages

St Lucy’s School for children who experience disability, held a photographic competition and exhibition on Friday 8 September with the theme “My View”. It drew on the belief that every child has “100 languages” from the Italian educational philosophy Reggio Emilia. “Photography is a powerful way for anyone to communicate but particularly for children with disabilities who may face challenges when verbalising their ideas about the world,” says Creative Arts Coordinator, Alessandra Picone. “It was fascinating to see what they notice and the interesting angles and perspectives they chose.” Almost 100 students entered the competition from St Lucy’s and other schools, including St Dominic’s Mayfield and MLC Burwood. “There is always a risk that we will underestimate the ability of children with special needs – putting a camera in their hands allows them to show us the talent and ability that otherwise we might not see,” said St Lucy’s Principal, Jo Karaolis. Read more - Sector News.

Events and Opportunities

• Sydney Children's Festival ticket giveaway - for your chance to win a family pass to the physical theatre comedy The Man the Sea Saw email marketing@carriageworks.com.au with SEA SAW in the subject line.

• Beyond ABBA - Term 4 of Riverside Theatres' ongoing workshop program for people with disability in film, movement and theatre.

• Sydney Community College creative courses - Inclusive Community Education Program for people with disability in the central, east or inner west of Sydney.

• JUMP open for applications - the Australia Council’s National Mentoring Program for young and emerging artists to form a mentoring relationship with a professional artist.

• Artists of Creative Growth exhibition - works by artists from Oakland California who are part of the widely known international studio Creative Growth for artists with a learning disability.

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.