Accessible Arts / arts + disability NSW

Vernon Ah Kee, 'Tolerance'. Vinyl on PVC
122 x 180cms. Image courtesy of 2008
Biennale of Sydney. To be launched by Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover Moore, this event will unlock the Biennale's key themes and artworks for people with a disability. Free guided tours will be audio described and Auslan interpreted. Tactile experiences and easy to understand descriptions for people with intellectual disabilities will also be included.

The Lord Mayor's Community Access Day is presented by the Biennale of Sydney, the City of Sydney, Accessible Arts, Pier 2/3 The Wharf, Museum of Contemporary Art and Public Programs 2008 Art Gallery of New South Wales. AUSLAN interpreters from Deaf Society of NSW. Audio describers from Vision Australia.

The tours will be presented in three venues:

• Pier 2/3 The Wharf, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay
• Museum of Contemporary Art, West Circular Quay
• The Art Gallery of New South Wales, The Domain

A free accessible bus will be circulating between Circular Quay, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of NSW and Pier2/3 throughout the day enabling patrons to attend tours at all three venues.

 

When: Saturday 23 August 2008 from 10:00am to 4:30pm

Where: Starting at Pier 2/3 The Wharf, 13 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay, Sydney

Cost: Free

Booking: Call Alison McLaren, Accessible Arts tel: 02 9251 6499, ext 6 or amclaren@aarts.net.au to book for a guided tour.

More info: Visit the Biennale of Sydney 2008 website. To find out how to get to all community access day events visit Venues.

Community Access Day Program

10:00am Lord Mayors Launch at Pier 2/3 The Wharf (Auslan Interpreted)

Auslan Interpreted tours
10:30am - Pier 2/3 The Wharf, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay
11:00am - Museum of Contemporary Art
1:30pm - Art Gallery of NSW
2:00pm - Museum of Contemporary Art

Audio Described tours
11:00am - Museum of Contemporary Art
12:30pm - Pier 2/3 The Wharf, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay
2:00pm - Museum of Contemporary Art
3:30pm - Art Gallery of NSW

The 11am and 2pm tours at the MCA are combined audio described and Auslan interpreted tours. Therefore, whilst there are four listings for the MCA above there are in fact two tours only for the MCA.

Tour for people with intellectual disabilities:
11:00am - Art Gallery of NSW.

ACCESS INFORMATION FOR ALL 2008 BIENNALE EVENTS

ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES ACCESS

The main entrance is at the front of the gallery however this entry has a flight of stairs to negotiate outside and further steps once inside. A permanent ramp is located at the rear of the Gallery. This entrance can be accessed via the roadway that runs along the right side of the Gallery. Press the intercom button at the boom-gate and you will be directed from there. View map of this access route.

Lift access is available to all exhibition spaces. There are a limited number of wheelchairs available for use – please see the reception desk on ground entrance level. An audio-induction loop is provided in the Domain Theatre, Lower Level 3, accessible by lift for all lectures and films. Portable FM-transmitter systems are available for all guided tours, on request. Phone 02 9225 1744.

ARTSPACE

Artspace is located at 43-51 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo. The entrance may be uneven with a cobblestone surface. The front entrance provides level access to the single floor gallery. Works are positioned with appropriate movement and turning spaces. Wheelchair accessible toilets are available. Further access information can be found on the ARTSPACE website.

COCKATOO ISLAND (Not wheelchair accessible)

Cockatoo Island is a new arts venue located on an island of Sydney Harbour. The ferry from Circular Quay is the main course of travel to and from the island. There are many venues on the island and some are accessible whilst others are not. Depending on the level of the water tide, the ramp from the ferry to the island may not be of a 1 in 14 gradient for wheelchair users. Furthermore, some works will be placed in venues in the top half of the island which is accessed via a very steep hill of approximately 150 metres in length. An unsheltered rest spot is half way up the hill.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (MCA)

The MCA is located on the Sydney Harbour foreshore at West Circular Quay. Nestled between Sydney's busy Circular Quay ferry terminal and the historic Rocks precinct it is close to all forms of public transport: bus, train and ferry. The MCA has 2 entrances. Both the Circular Quay and George Street entrances are accessible. The main entry is via 140 George Street, The Rocks with a gentle grade from the street to automatic doors. Ramped access to the left of the formal staircase leads to the lift which accesses all galleries. There are tactile warning and directional tiles across George Street leading to the MCA. The Circular Quay entrance has double swing doors that are hinged and reasonably heavy. Visitors using wheelchairs can access all levels of the museum except the mezzanine level. Wheelchairs are available free of charge from the Information and Cloaking desk situated in the Level 1 Circular Quay foyer. An accessible toilet is located on the ground level past the shop and reception desk/cloakroom. Phone 02 9245 2396.

PIER 2/3 The Wharf ACCESS

Pier 2/3 is located on Hickson Road in Walsh Bay. The venue is fully wheelchair accessible including lift access to the second level. Ramp access to the Pier 2/3 breezeway is available from Hickson Road near the round about at the corner of Pottinger Street. Pier 2/3 has plank hardwood floor surfaces that are level, however, there are variations and imperfections through years of use that may cause some unevenness in the floor surface and possible trip hazards.

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS

The Royal Botanic Gardens are located on the shoreline of Farm Cove between Bennelong and Yurong (Mrs Macquarie) Points in Sydney Harbour. The Gardens lie between Mrs Macquarie Road and Art Gallery Road, The Domain and Macquarie Street, Sydney. Accessible entrances can be found at the Opera House Gate, Queen Elizabeth II Gate, Government House Gate, Morshead Fountain Gate, Woolloomooloo Gate, Victoria Lodge Gate and Yurong Gate. Accessible Toilets are located at Government House near the Opera House Gate and just off Mrs Macquarie Road near Victoria Lodge. A map including locations of accessible toilets and accessible pathways can be found on the Royal Botanic Gardens website. Biennale works will be located near the Art Gallery of NSW and near the Tropical Centre (closest to the Morshead Fountain Gate).

 

---

PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO VENUES

For public transport information in Sydney, call Transport Infoline on 131 500. Circular Quay and Town Hall Train Stations are accessible. Ferries are accessible and some buses are accessible.

FURTHER ACCESS INFORMATION

For further information or media enquiries regarding access to the Lord Mayor’s Community Access Day (including accessible bus service), please contact Alison McLaren, Accessible Arts by phone 02 9251 6499 (ext 6) or email amclaren@aarts.net.au. Or contact Nadia de Ceglie 0414 741 089 or email ndeceglie@aarts.net.au.