Accessible Arts / arts + disability NSW

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Accessible Arts News

Members of Expanding Universe,
Brunswick Heads, performed for IDPWD 2007

Small Grants opportunity for International Day of People with a disability 2008

Accessible Arts Small Grants are available for organisations and arts workers who are planning arts events to celebrate International Day of People with a Disability, 3 December 2008. Register your planned event or arts project by the 1 September and be included in the Department of Ageing, Disability and Homecare Don’t DIS my ABILITY printed broadsheet. This full-colour program of events will be distributed statewide. Once registered, three categories apply for an Accessible Arts Small Grant of up to $500 to assist in budgeting for planned events. These include arts projects in regional NSW, arts projects in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Central Coast, Newcastle and the Blue Mountains and arts projects facilitated by independent arts workers in metropolitan Sydney. More information and application forms available here.

Bundanon Studio Residency awarded to Alstonvale based Printmaker

Congratulations to Alstonvale based master printmaker and art facilitator Scott Trevelyan, who has been awarded the Accessible Arts Bundanon Studio residency and $3000 stipend. Scott graduated from Southern Cross University Lismore in 2007 with a Bachelor of Visual Arts and works with various print mediums such as etching and lino-block to create works on paper and artist-books. He draws inspiration from his experience of recovering from an acquired brain injury and its impact on memory. Scott will undertake the residency at the Bundanon studio complex in late 2008. Accessible Arts partnered with Bundanon Trust to provide this opportunity for a NSW artist with a disability. The artist was selected from a high calibre list of applicants, which included performance and visual artists as well as poets and writers for film and theatre. Find out more about the residency.

Good Practice or the Goods Lift? Catalyst or chasm…

Accessible Arts will host the forum Good Practice or the Goods Lift? Catalyst or chasm with international speaker Betty Siegel and key arts workers from NSW on Wednesday 3 September 2008 from 10am to 1pm at Raffertys Theatre, Parramatta Riverside Theatres, corner of Church and Market Streets, Parramatta. Betty Siegel, Director of Accessibility, from the Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts in Washington, will provide insight into how arts and disability programming can encourage arts organisations to incorporate access as part of their core business. Key arts workers will discuss inclusive leadership, innovation and impact through international exchange. Have your questions answered at this exciting event. Lunch will be provided. Bookings essential. Contact Alison McLaren, Audience Development Officer, Accessible Arts tel: 02 9251 6499 ext 6 or amclaren@aarts.net.au. The Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body, has assisted this project.

Mixed Abilities Ensemble, Utopian World

Mixed Abilities Ensemble find Utopia

The Mixed Abilities Ensemble, an ensemble of performers with and without a disability, engaged in 15 weeks of skills development in theatre making and performance at Cabra Vale Leisure Centre in Cabramatta. This project was developed by Powerhouse Youth Theatre in partnership with Accessible Arts. On the final Saturday, an audience was invited to participate in a workshop led by the ensemble. A short performance piece that the group had developed, based on the idea of Utopia was also featured. The ensemble will now engage in a creative development process for Hard Daze, a large scale production to be staged in 2009. For more information on the Mixed Abilities Ensemble contact Claudia Chidiac at Powerhouse Youth Theatre tel: 9724 6077 or claudia@pyt.com.au or Alison Richardson, Creative Programs Coordinator at Accessible Arts tel: 9251 6499 (ext 5) or arichardson@aarts.net.au.

Arts Program Audit of NSW

Accessible Arts is planning to undertake an audit of creative programs available to people with a disability in NSW. The audit involves surveying organisations in order to quantify how many programs within the arts and disability sectors are catering to people with a disability. The audit will capture information about arts and cultural programs that are available for individuals to be a participant. It will also gain information relating to art forms, location, age, type of disability and whether the program is exclusively for people with a disability or enables integrated participation. If your organisation does not receive a survey and would like to participate in this audit and has not received a survey, please email Accessible Arts at project@aarts.net.au.

Goz Ugochuckwu, filmmaker and editor.

Profile: Goz Ugochuckwu, filmmaker from the UK

Goz Ugochuckwu, filmmaker and editor from the UK, recently traveled to Sydney to co-facilitate the weeklong filmmaking workshop Kino Sydney. This project was based on Kino Kabaret, an international filmmaking movement and was sponsored by the Department of Ageing, Disability and Homecare and Visit Britain. Goz is a founder of Kino in Manchester and explains, "Kino is designed to be fully accessible to people of all skill sets, background, ability and experience." Her expertise as a filmmaker spans the last eight years, where she has developed a specific interest in documentary making and short film. As a wheelchair user, Goz is really enthusiastic about accessible filmmaking and enabling people with disabilities to learn how to shoot films. She will return to Australia next March to run a series of similar workshops in Adelaide.

Access programs similar to those at Penrith
Regional Gallery are needed in NSW

Audience Development Tip: Access programs needed in NSW galleries

A report on the first year of a three-year study of visitors to galleries and museums released by Museums & Galleries NSW strongly demonstrates the value of galleries and museums to all sectors of the community. However, interviews with over 2,200 visitors at twelve galleries in Western Sydney and the Newcastle/Hunter regions revealed that only five per cent of visitors identified as having a disability. With ABS statistics identifying up to twenty five per cent of people living in those regions having disabilities, a large need to improve access to galleries exists in NSW. Access audits can identify necessary improvements for accessibility. Other initiatives include open programs that offer access services and/or tours tailored to suit a range of different groups. Good examples include Auslan interpreted tours for people who are Deaf or hearing impaired, audio described tours for people who have low vision or are blind and sensory tours that include tactile experiences. For assistance improving access to your gallery contact Alison McLaren, Audience Development Officer tel 02 9251 6499 ext.6 or email amclaren@aarts.net.au.

Sector News

Vernon Ah Kee, 'Tolerance', vinyl on pvc
122 x 180 cms - one of the many artists at
this year's biennale.

Book now for the Biennale of Sydney access tours

The Lord Mayor's Community Access Day at the Biennale of Sydney is less than four weeks away. Australia’s festival of contemporary art will open up for people with a disability, their carers, families and friends on Saturday 23 August 2008 from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm. Free tours to view, touch and listen to over 180 world-renowned artists works will begin with an Auslan interpreted launch at 10.00 am by Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP at Pier 2/3. Guided tours continue throughout the day at three major venues: Art Gallery of NSW, Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) and Pier 2/3 The Wharf. A free accessible bus will circulate between the venues. Auslan interpreted tours, audio described tours, tactile experiences and easy to understand descriptive tours will be available. More info on tours, venues and access. To book into a guided tour contact Alison McLaren at Accessible Arts, tel: 02 9251 6499 (ext 6) or amclaren@aarts.net.au.

Churchill Fellowship awarded to Bega ‘Art in the Garage’ Coordinator

Matthew Perry, coordinator of the Art in the Garage project in Bega, Southern NSW has been awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship. The fellowship provides a world travel study grant available to Australians who are in a position to positively impact their communities and culture. Matthew will visit the USA, UK, Scotland and Ireland to study innovative new ways for providing sensitive and supportive art making environments for people with a disability. This will contribute to Matthew’s expertise in developing and sustaining arts projects for people with a disability. For the last eight years his development of the Art in the Garage project, a small garage converted into a studio, has grown to support 24 people with a disability in their art making and employs local practicing artists as educators. Artworks created in the project have been seen at sixteen acclaimed exhibitions in Bega and other regions. Find out about Matthew’s world tour.

Sydney Street Choir. Photo by Jamie Williams

Sydney Street Choir off to the outback with ‘Two Hearts Tour’

The Sydney Street Choir is going from strength to strength and will tour their original music throughout the Northern Territory, commencing with a concert at the Darwin Festival on the 15 August 2008. The choir has performed numerous gigs throughout Sydney over the last two years to fundraise for the tour. Artists such as Mark Trevorrow, Little Patty, Normie Rowe and Jonathon Welch have supported their performances. In June, the choir was awarded runner up for the Best Program for the Disadvantaged at the Music in Communities Awards 2008. They most recently performed at World Youth Day in front of an estimated 150,000 people. Their ‘Two Hearts Tour’ includes traveling to remote communities in Katherine, Tennant Creek, Hermansburg and Uluru and will involve performance and workshops with indigenous communities.

Robert Taylor - Untitled, acrylic on paper,
42cm x 60cm.

Miroma exhibition reveals potential of artists with a disability

Twenty artists with disabilities will exhibit their works at this year’s Miroma Art Exhibition: Revelations. The exhibition will open at 6pm on Saturday 6 September at the Stone Gallery, Oxford Street, Paddington. The works can be viewed every Saturday in September during the hours of the Paddington Markets. Miroma is a Rudolf Steiner organisation and has run visual arts and crafts programs for people with a disability for over 40 years. Participants are encouraged to work individually with skilled support to develop and express their own artistic impulse. This year’s theme ‘Revelations’ is significant to people with a disability expressing themselves through art to reveal their potential. The exhibition will provide the public a glimpse of the many talents of people with a disability who attend Miroma Day Programs in Vaulcuse.

Wok Sok Kim, ceramic artist in his studio

Australian Ceramics Triennale 09: Facing an accessible future

Expressions of interest are being sought from ceramic artists with a disability to contribute to the Australian Ceramics Triennale (formerly the Australian National Ceramics Conference). The Triennale will take place in Sydney during July 2009. Artists with a disability and/or arts workers who teach ceramics as part of an outreach or accessible program, are invited to contribute their ideas, energy and enthusiasm. Meetings are taking place once a month in Sydney to discuss and organise a program as part of the Triennale, which will emphasise and support the very positive contribution these artists and facilitators make to the creative life of the ceramic society. For more information contact Karen Weiss tel: 0423 173 639 or email writepot@bigpond.net.au.

New literature with disability content

Two books recently published explore different angles on disability. The first was co-written by Simon Darcy, member of the Accessible Arts consumer reference group and Associate Professor in Leisure, Sport and Tourism at the University of Technology. Titled Benchmark Games: The Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, this book explores questions about the appeal of the Games to the community, disability sport and the place of the disability community in Australian life. The second publication, Life In His Hands, is the story of two men, Aaron McMilan, a talented concert pianist who at twenty-four was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor, and Charlie Teo an Australian neurosurgeon who took on his case and operated. Susan Wyndham, senior journalist with the Sydney Morning Herald, is the author of this true story about a remarkable battle against brain cancer.

Harriet Macdonald, artist's work on Pool

Web forum: Join the Pool

ABC Radio National has developed a new website that fosters creativity and collaboration online. Pool allows artists the opportunity to exhibit and collaborate across countless media without restrictions of physical boundaries such as transport, venues and geographic considerations. Artist can use the website to upload work, share it, ask for collaborative assistance and display it for the world to see. This online space actively encourages the creation of communities of interest across a range of genres such as animation, video, audio, photography, film, music and sound art. It has been developed to make viewing, collaboraton and uploading an easy process. Access to and membership at Pool is free.

ABAF Cultural Fund free information session

Learn how AbaF’s Australia Cultural Fund can assist practicing artists or small cultural organisations attract tax-deductible donations to support projects. A free two hour information session on Thursday 7 August, from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm at Patrick White Room, Level 3, Australia Council Building, 372 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, will inform participants about ways in which to raise donations for projects through the Australian Cultural Fund. This fund is a unique facility that enables donors to receive a tax deduction for donations to AbaF in support of cultural organisations which do not have deductible gift recipient (DGR) status and individual arts practitioners (who are unable to obtain DGR status). Donations can be nominated to a specific artist or cultural organisation. For more information contact Belinda Layton tel: (03) 9616 0314 or skillsdev@abaf.org.au.

Regional Focus

Symptomatics Choir perform at the recent
Arts and Disability Forum in Orange.

Accessible Arts to visit Goulburn, the Wingecarribee & Dubbo

‘Speak Up’ arts and disability forums continue throughout regional NSW during August. Issues and ideas identified at these forums will contribute to the development of an Arts & Disability Action Strategy to be produced by Accessible Arts. This strategy will provide an overall picture of the creative and artistic needs and interests of people with a disability in NSW. In July, Accessible Arts Audience Development Officer, Alison McLaren facilitated forums in Albury Wodonga, Alstonville, Armidale, Denilliquin, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga. Forums will continue in August at Goulburn Regional Art Gallery on Monday 4 August, Wingecarribee Civic Centre on Wednesday 6 August and the Western Plains Cultural Centre in Dubbo on Saturday 9 August 2008. More info on . To register your interest contact Alison McLaren tel: 02 9251 6499 (ext 6) or amclaren@aarts.net.au.

Fish sculpture by the Belubula River in
Canowindra

Regional NSW up skill with Disability Awareness & Access Training

Accessible Arts headed to Canowindra near Orange in Central West NSW to deliver accredited Disability Awareness & Access training in July. The Age of Fishes Museum and the Cowra Visitors Centre sponsored the training, which enabled Board members, staff and volunteers from both organisations to attend. Very positive feedback about the training was received from all participants. Accessible Arts can travel to any regional area in NSW to deliver disability awareness and access training. Organisations can combine their training needs to pool resources and share the costs of delivering the course in their local area. For more information contact Jane Pollard, Training Manager tel: 02 9251 6499 (ext 3) or training.manager@aarts.net.au.

Challenge Disability Services art exhibition celebrates 50 years

Challenge Disability Services is holding an art exhibition from the 6 August to the 2 September 2008 at the Ray Walsh House Foyer Gallery, 437 Peel Street, Tamworth. This exhibition will celebrate 50 years of providing support services for people with a disability. Challenge Disability Services started as a small group of parents and friends seeking support services for their children with a disability. Over the last 50 years it has grown into one of the largest disability support services outside metropolitan Australia. Artworks by people with a disability from the New England, North West, Dubbo and Hunter areas will be exhibited. Prizes will be awarded as part of the exhibition with a total prize money pool of $2,000. For more information contact Graham Dooley at Challenge Disability Services tel: 02 6766 1288 or graham.dooley@challserv.org.au.

International Focus

ArtVenture Art Prize focuses on human rights

An international organisation called ArtVenture has launched the 'Freedom to Create' prize, a significant creative award carrying a US$100,000 prize divided into three categories: the main prize, a youth prize and a prize to recognise imprisoned artists. ArtVenture is a grant-making philanthropic organisation that seeks to harness the powers of the arts to improve the lives of people in the hardest communities of the world. The ‘Freedom to Create’ prize will recognise artists who use their talents to promote human rights, including freedom of expression, empathy, equality and understanding. All art forms are accepted from arts and crafts, circus and traditional art through to graffiti, film and puppetry. Submissions for the prize close on the 31 October 2008. More information is available at ArtVenture.

Australia ratifies the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with a disability

The Australian Government has officially ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Australia has become the 30th country to formally ratify the treaty, which was adopted in 2006 and reinforces and affirms the rights of people with a disability. Ratification allows Australia to participate in the election of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which will implement the Convention that formally entered force in May. "Australia has a long-standing commitment to upholding and safeguarding the rights of people with a disability and ratifying the Convention sends this unequivocal message to the world," said Bill Shorten, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities. The Federal Government has also announced its intention to amend the Disability Discrimination Act during the spring sitting of Parliament. The Act will be amended to include recommendations from a 2004 Productivity Commission report.

Feedback

We invite you to comment on any of the items in this month’s newsletter, share your experiences of attending any of the listed events or offer suggestions for future newsletter items. Email your feedback to info@aarts.net.au.

Send us your news

Contributions to the newsletter are welcome and encouraged. Please send us your item by the 15th of the month, for the following month’s edition. Listings should include the title, date, location, a short (100 word) description plus all available contact details, access details and an image (JPEG or GIF format). Artsevents, opportunities or news that will be of interest to people with disabilities, their families, friends and carers and are accessible will be published. Email contributions to: info@aarts.net.au.