Accessible Arts / arts + disability NSW

• Taking the Lead

• Creative Inclusive

Taking the Lead

Regional Speak Up Consultations complete

Accessible Arts completed the final face-to-face Speak Up Arts & Disability consultation in Broken Hill on 22 October 2008. Twelve regional consultations have been undertaken and the information gathered will contribute to an Arts and Disability Action Strategy for NSW. A draft of this strategy will be submitted to the Cultural Ministers Council working group as a response to the current discussion paper on developing a National Arts and Disability Strategy. This will ensure the voices of individuals and organisations from both the arts and disability sectors in NSW will be heard at a federal government level. The draft Arts & Disability Action Strategy will be on public display from December 2008 until February 2009. For further information, please contact Alison McLaren, Audience Development Officer by tel: 02 9251 6499 (ext 6) or email amclaren@aarts.net.au.

First Fully Accessible Film Festival tours NSW

The inaugural Access All Areas Film Festival is traveling around NSW during November and December to offer people in regional areas improved access to cinema. The Festival is screening several Australian feature and short films and will be audio described for people with low vision and open-captioned for people who are Deaf or have a hearing impairment. Most screenings will be followed by Auslan interpreted Q&A sessions with special guests. Rows of seating will be removed in cinemas to improve access for people who use wheelchairs. Read more...

ABC film crew at Biennale of Sydney Lord
Mayor'sCommunity Access Day. Photo
courtesy of Liam Lim.

Audio-described exhibition broadcast nationwide

A nationwide audience experienced a sample of the first professionally audio described tour of an art exhibition in NSW, when the ABC featured the work of Accessible Arts on the Sunday Arts program, 12 October 2008. The 2008 Biennale of Sydney Lord Mayor's Community Access day caught the attention of Sunday Arts, for its pioneering contribution to improving access to arts festivals for people with disabilities. The program highlighted the experiences of people with low vision and hearing impairments that attended Auslan interpreted tours and audio described tours, carrying a powerful message Australia wide about inclusive arts events. Download a version of the program to learn more. Contact Nadia de Ceglie, Marketing Coordinator for more information or assistance, tel: 9251 6499 or ndeceglie@aarts.net.au.

Bakehouse is over - but it's just the beginning

Over 300 people engaged in the inaugural week-long arts festival Bakehouse. Connections were made with mainstream arts venues and production companies who have expressed interest in continuing to create relevant and contemporary work with people with a disability in NSW. "This can only be built on in years to follow," commented Bakehouse Artistic Director Alison Richardson. Festival goers were treated to the Divine Miss M tap dancing at Dr Sketchy's, Marky Mark hip hopping at The Annandale Hotel, stilt walking workshops with STALKER and a peep inside Erth's puppet and mask laden studio. Digby Webster attended the CarriageWorks workshops and exhibited several art works in both the Fridaze and AART.BOXX exhibitions. He said, "It was an awesome week. All the tutors are great people. They make me feel so happy. I learnt how to make people laugh with the masks." For more information on Bakehouse go to www.slicedbreadattraction.org.au.

Reminder : Submit your views to improve strategies for full inclusion in the arts

The deadline for submitting comments and feedback to the Cultural Ministers Council discussion paper on developing a National Arts and Disability Strategy is 17 November 2008. This opportunity to voice the needs, issues and experiences facing people with a disability when accessing the arts is an important way to contribute to this strategy. Find out how to make a difference. The deadline for submitting feedback to FaHCSIA on the development of a National Disability Strategy is Monday 1 December 2008. Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes has welcomed the commencement of work on the strategy. He said ""For too long, meeting the needs of Australians with a disability has been done on an ad hoc and charitable basis - the Government's new National Disability Strategy will change this." The Commissioner urged all Australians with a disability to "grasp this opportunity to plan our move toward full citizenship." Read more...

Creative Inclusive

The Wild Boys presents a new theatre language

A new main stage production by Australian Theatre of the Deaf will connect Deaf and hearing audiences through an innovative theatre language combining sign language and physical theatre. The Wild Boys, directed by ATOD Artistic Director Caroline Conlon explains, "I have always wanted to explore the potential of combining sign language with physical movement as a visual means of telling a story. Hearing audiences are familiar with physical movement; Deaf audiences are familiar with sign language. This play will bridge the linguistic gap between the Deaf and hearing worlds". The Wild Boys with Alex Jones and Darren Green, is at the Parade Playhouse, NIDA from 12 November to the 29 November 2008. Fully accessible venue.

Made You Look : Celebration of Ability

The Department of Ageing, Disability & Homecare will launch the 2008 Don't DIS my ABILITY campaign on 3 November 2008. Now in it's fifth year, this campaign runs throughout November and December to celebrate International Day of People with a Disability on 3 December 2008. Long-term program partner Accessible Arts is thrilled over one third of the events in this year's campaign has an arts component. Many of these events are free. The DontDISmyABILITY website will promote arts events happening during the campaign. Register here. ‘Made You Look', the printed program of all events will be circulated statewide from 3 November. For further information contact Stephanie Timmins, DADHC, tel: 8270 2459 or Stephanie.timmins@dadhc.nsw.gov.au

2008 Don't DIS my ABILITY grants announced

Accessible Arts' Small Grants in partnership with DADHC were recently made available for organisations and arts workers, to assist with arts events registered with the Don't DIS my ABILITY Campaign 2008. This year 22 successful grant applicants received amounts of up to $500 across three categories. One successful applicant, under the independent arts workers category, is professional dance teacher Dean Watson. Dean is the founder of Flamenco @, an independent dance program for people with a disability. As part of the 2008 program, Flamenco @ is offering an introduction to flamenco dance and music at the Seymour Centre. Read more...

Regional Artists on the map

Regional Focus : A new initiative between the ABC and Regional Arts Australia is providing opportunities for artists who are geographically isolated. Artpost is an interactive website and short video series for TV broadcast, which showcases artists working in regional and remote parts of the country. The site provides the tools for artists to create short videos about who they are and their work. Videos or still photograph montages can be uploaded directly. ABC Television and Radio will be using the website as a tool to find stories and videos will be broadcast on ABC1 and ABC2.

Profile : Alex Jones, actor/director

Alex Jones' acting career spans twenty years and includes theatre, tv and film in the US and in Australia. Born in Michigan, USA, to a Deaf family, Alex's first language is sign language. He knows three sign languages and five spoken languages. Alex is an ambassador for the 2008 Don't Dis my Ability campaign and a strong advocater for improved access to the arts. He was a keynote speaker at the 2008 Sydney Film Festival Silence is Golden forum and gave a moving account of what it was like to fully experience television and cinema when captioning was first introduced. Alex is a key executive of Taj Productions, a production company that transforms the experience of disability through entertainment and education. He is set to deliver an outstanding performance at this month's ATOD production, The Wild Boys.

Other events and opportunities

• Inrhythm - drumming & music for people with a disability

• Accessible Arts Open Program - free workshops in Blacktown with the special access kit

• Art Gallery NSW Signing Art - Visions of colour, to complement the exhibition The World of Claude Monet

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. 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.