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Newsletter :: January 2009
With the New Year ahead, January's newsletter highlights a number of exciting developments in the arts and disability sectors that will improve accessibility over the course of 2009 and beyond. We continue to keep you informed about events and opportunities across a diversity of art forms and look forward to receiving your news and feedback over the coming year.
Taking the Lead
Gallery staff receive access training at new National Portrait Gallery
The new National Portrait Gallery building in Canberra opened its doors to the public on 4 December 2008. The gallery is home to some 400 portraits of people who have shaped and continue to shape the nation of Australia. Prior to opening, the gallery demonstrated its commitment to access through engaging Accessible Arts to deliver Disability Awareness & Access training to staff from across all levels of the organisation. Gallery staff rated the training highly and indicated that one of the highlights was the guest speaker organised through Vision Australia ACT. Accessible Arts has customized Disability Awareness & Access training that can be delivered onsite and also TAFE NSW Accredited Disability Awareness & Access Training sessions planned throughout 2009. Read more...
Australian feature films to be captioned
From 2009 all feature films financed by Screen Australia will be required to have caption costs included in their budgets. Currently, there are an estimated 4 million Australians who are vision and hearing impaired, and unable to enjoy the cinema due to limited access. A recent panel discussion presented by Screen Australia unravelled the mysteries of captioning, tapping into why making films accessible makes artistic and commercial sense. Sarah Tracton, award winning filmmaker and access advocate presented on the panel. She said, ‘Through this exciting initiative, filmmakers have the power to tap into new audiences, and ensure the cinema experience is equitable to all. As the film industry seeks to find new ways of attracting greater audiences in the face of competing emerging technologies, heightening accessibility through captioning and audio description is a way of filling unsold seats." Representatives from Media Access Australia, Roadshow Entertainment, Atlab Operations and Vision Australia also contributed to the panel discussion.
MCA redevelopment offers accessible solutions in historically significant space
The Museum of Contemporary Art unveiled redevelopment plans in December for a new building that will transform the institution into a global contemporary arts hub. Accessibility and education are central to the new development, which will house a National Centre for Creative Learning with workshop spaces for schools and after-school youth programs. There will be new sensory facilities for the Museum's renowned Bella program for young people with specific needs, a digital classroom, multi-media room, library and resource room and a lecture theatre/new media events space. Enhanced online capabilities and improved facilities will enable the delivery of a greater range of educational programs to more Australians living in remote and regional areas. A new highly visible entrance that serves visitors from both the Quayside and George Street together with ramp and lift access will simplify access to galleries on three floors and compliment the existing building.
Study proves benefits of arts programs within disability services
A recent study about current community art services for people with disability in the Sydney metropolitan area, has found that many disability services are providing creative opportunities for their participants with very positive outcomes. The study entitled ‘Art for Art's Sake: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Facilitation of Creativity Within Disability Services' states "the inclusion of the creative arts in disability group services has demonstrated efficacy in enhancing the lives of group participants." The study found qualitative evidence to support the existence of these intrinsic benefits and recommends further research into how creative arts services are situated among other activity programs in their ability to improve the quality of life for those with disabilities. Read more...
Western Australian Government offers grants to artists with disabilities
National Focus: A cross government partnership in Western Australia is piloting a three-year project that will provide grants for artists with disabilities who live in the region. The Department of Culture and the Arts together with the Disability Services Commission have designed the project to improve access to grant funding for people with disability to develop their arts practice. Grant categories include: Making Work - projects that create new artwork or interpret existing material; Showing Work - projects that show Western Australian work to new audiences either within the State, interstate or internationally; and Learning - projects that develop new skills by working with other artists. The project also offers an easy to understand handbook, the services of a Disability and the Arts Inclusion Initiative Officer to assist with applications and arranging support from Arts & Disability advocates who understand issues faced by artists with disabilities.
Arts and disability gaining momentum in New Zealand
An international disability art symposium being held in Auckland, New Zealand in February 2009, will bring "pace, perspective and prominence to creative diversity in the arts" says Creative Director Philip Patston, who has been laying the groundwork for the symposium for many years. Momentum '09 will feature international keynote speakers and performers, panel discussions, performance showcases and a mini-summit on arts policy over four days. The symposium will focus on dialogue, audience development and capacity building with a learning fair offering professional development and highlighting career opportunities for artists with disabilities. Read more...
Creative Inclusive
Scott Trevelyan - Born to be Wild
Scott Trevelyan, master printmaker and recipient of the inaugural Accessible Arts Bundanon Residency, has just completed an intensive and creative four weeks at Fern Studio Bundanon, developing his art practice and engaging with other artists at the creative hub. This included presenting an artist's talk to students from the University of Wollongong. Scott also had the opportunity to meet with visiting curators, including Anne Loxley, Curator of Penrith Regional Gallery and the Lewers Bequest. As a consequence, Scott's work has been selected for Born to be Wild, an exhibition that explores and celebrates the place of the motorcycle in Australian culture. This major exhibition will be held at Penrith Regional Gallery from 31 January to 4 April 2008. Artists exhibiting in Born to be Wild include Tracy Moffatt, Patricia Piccinini and Shaun Gladwell.
Call Out: Create and design AART.BOXX 09
Accessible Arts is interested in hearing from artists, arts workers, curators, writers and people interested in persuing a career in the arts, to form a committee and co-ordinate AART.BOXX 09. This opportunity is open to people with and without a disability. Monthly committee meetings will commence in late March 2009 and will be held at Accessible Arts. AART.BOXX is a nation-wide arts initiative that provides a creative platform for emerging artists & creative thinkers with a disability. Members of the 2008 AART.BOXX committee gained professional experience in arts administration, which assisted at least two participants to further their careers and secure full time employment in the arts. Applications close Wednesday 18 February 2009. Download an application from the AART.BOXX project page. For more information contact Josie Cavallaro, Arts Development Officer tel: (02) 9251 6499 ext 4 or jcavallaro@aarts.net.au.
Don't DIS my ABILITY 08 in review
Accessible Arts' staff collectively attended over twenty arts events during the Don't DIS my ABILITY campaign held across NSW to mark International Day of People with Disability. Exhibitions across broader Sydney were visited from Canada Bay to Lithgow, Chester Hill and beyond. Sensorial - an exploration of the senses was a favourite at Katoomba Fine Art Gallery with works by artists with and without disability. Music events included a Performing Arts Day at Westpoint Blacktown with a line up of percussionists and drumming performance as well as The Junction House Band. Illawarra rock band The Rockers launched a website and Myspace in Wollongong and were thrilled to have Accessible Arts attend. Ann Lehmann, the group's facilitator said "Support from Accessible Arts has helped build a profile resulting in paying gigs which will fund our next CD." The Australian Chamber Orchestra's introduction to classical music for secondary school students who are blind or have low vision was also a favourite among the team at Accessible Arts.
ATOD Drama Camp set for another success
Australian Theatre of the Deaf is running a drama camp from the 19 to the 23 January 2009 for people between the ages of 15 and 20 years. Acting, performance, dance, movement and circus skills will be explored during daily workshops between 9.30am and 4.00pm at Alexandria Town Hall, 73 Garden Street, Alexandria. Facilitated by professional tutors, the ATOD Drama Camp was first offered in January 2008 to a group of fourteen young Deaf and hearing participants and was a huge success. The 2009 camp has been tailored to stimulate the imagination, engage all levels of experience, develop life skills and provide an opportunity to meet new people. Cost: $95.00. For more information contact ATOD, tel: 02 9310 1255, tty: 02 9310 1205 or email info@atod.org.au after the 5 January 2009.
Call Out: Auditions for Recreation Rendezvous 2009 Production
Recreation Rendezvous, an organisation that aims to support and encourage people with disability to access recreation and leisure activities, is auditioning for their July 2009 theatre production. All interested adults with disabilities who are available to take part in drama and play development classes over the next 6 months are invited to apply. Recreation Rendezvous have produced successful performances for several years including an adaptation of Shakespeare's ‘Twelfth Night' in 2007. Auditions will be held on Monday 2 February 2009 at Lane Cove Senior Citizen Centre, 180 Longueville Rd, Lane Cove. Contact Recreation Rendezvous for more information and to book an audition time, tel: 02 9420 8555 or admin@recrend.ngo.au.
Emerging Writers Program in the Hunter Valley
Tantrum Theatre, based in Newcastle, is offering an inaugural Emerging Writers Program aimed at young people from 16 to 24 years who reside no further than 75km from Newcastle CBD. Four writers will be selected to receive one-on-one mentoring from established playwrights Raimondo Cortese, Lally Katz, Ross Mueller and Alana Valentine throughout 2009. The program will culminate in creating a short play to be staged as part of the 11th National Young Writers Festival. Applicants are to submit two sample pieces of writing, one of which must be a text written for the stage. The Artistic Director of Tantrum Theatre, Brendan O'Connell and Hunter Writers Centre Director Brian Joyce will assess applications. Deadline for applications is Monday 12 January 2009. For more information contact Brendan O'Connell tel: 02 4929 7279 or email ad@tantrumtheatre.org.au.
Grants available for regional and rural areas
Regional Focus: Country Arts Support Program is a small grants program delivered on behalf of Arts NSW by Regional Arts NSW. Up to $3,000 in funding is available to community groups in regional NSW for an arts or cultural event such as a workshop, exhibition, project, festival or performance. A limited number of grants are also available for professional artist's fees, travel and accommodation. The aim is to provide access to arts activities for small communities and to ensure that regional and rural areas have an artistic voice. In the 2008 CASP funding round, several arts and disability projects received grants including Bago Magic Performance Group, a community drama group for people of all abilities in Wauchope. This enabled the drama group to employ a new drama tutor to support the Artistic Director with their 2008 production. Applications for the 2009 round close on Friday 13 February 2009. Read more...
Other events and opportunities
- Contemporary Music Tour Program - funding to the contemporary music sector for touring Australia
- Monet and the Impressionists - audio described tour at the Art Gallery NSW
- Circus Skills Workshop - free workshop for young carers
- Music Class for pre-school children with specific needs - Macquarie University's Institute of Early Childhood Music Program
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.