Accessible Arts Monthly Newsletter
Newsletter :: April 2009
An increase in the diversity and quantity of opportunities for people with disability to access the arts is evident this month, demonstrating the progress being made in the arts and disability sector in NSW. The sector has been very responsive to Accessible Arts' three-year ‘Speak Up' consultation process, and an invitation to stakeholders for comment on statewide findings is now being extended. Call outs for people with disability to be involved in professional theatre and film productions is well timed after a recent visit to our shores from Christine Bruno, New York based actor, director and advocate for artists with disabilities in the entertainment industry in the US.
Taking the Lead
Ace Boncato, Project Officer, NSW Network of Women
with Disability, MDAA, one of 500 contributors to the
NSW arts & disability consultation process.
‘Speak Up' findings online and open for public comment
Feedback and public comment is being sought on Issues Papers developed from a three-year ‘Speak Up' consultation process with the arts and disability sectors across NSW. Over 500 individuals and representatives in metropolitan and regional communities, including arts and disability organisations; individual artists and audience members with disability; and carers of family and friends with disability contributed to information gathered. Accessible Arts is identifying the priority issues to be addressed and is ensuring information clearly reflects stakeholders' needs, experiences and ideas. Feedback and public comment is open until 31 May 2009 and is valued and welcome from all interested stakeholders. For further information or to make a verbal or written comment, please contact Alison McLaren, tel: 02 9251 6499 ext 6, amclaren@aarts.net.au, fax 02 9251 6422 or post ADAS, Accessible Arts, Pier 4, The Wharf, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay NSW, 2000.
Scott Trevelyan, Another Momentary Lapse of Reason,
2009, Artist's book, 310 x 310 x 200mm.
New works by 2008 Accessible Arts Bundanon Artist in Residence
Regional Focus: Scott Trevelyan, master printer is currently exhibiting a new body of work developed during his residency at Bundanon last November. ‘To Fly Without Wings' celebrates a juxtaposition of two Italian masters, Da Vinci and Ducati and is showing until 16 April at Barratt Galleries, Alstonville, northern NSW. Scott said, "As an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) survivor, the attention and focus that I was able to dedicate to my practice whilst at Bundanon, was priceless. I was able to immerse myself into a very healing and refreshing headspace that I rarely encounter in the everyday duties of life at home. This meditative-like state enabled me to produce a more informed and resolved quality in my artwork." Listen to a recent podcast of Scott in conversation with Richard Fidler on ABC 702 to hear his story. To register your interest for the 2010 Bundanon residency opportunity contact Josie Cavallaro, tel: 02 9251 6499 or jcavallaro@aarts.net.au.
Cassandra Laing, No time to waste, 2006, Graphite on
paper, Collection Artbank, Sydney. Photo courtesy of
the artist and Helen Gory Galerie.
Gallery tours continue to enhance access
The Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Gallery of NSW are continuing to offer access tours of current exhibitions, furthering the success of initiatives developed during last year's Biennale of Sydney's Lord Mayor's Community Access Day. In April, an audio described tour of the Permanent Collection at the Art Gallery of NSW will engage with key Australian artworks which have contributed to the idea of an Australian identity. During May, the MCA is presenting an Auslan interpreted and audio described tour of I walk the line: new Australian drawing, celebrating the renaissance currently being enjoyed by drawing in contemporary Australian art. This free event is presented in association with The Deaf Society of New South Wales and Insightful - enhancing access to the arts for people with low vision.
Disability Awareness & Access training taken to the regions
Current exhibitions in the main gallery of Goulburn Regional Art Gallery including the The Sixth Leica/CCP Documentary Photography Award and James King - Adaminaby, provided the perfect backdrop for Accessible Arts to deliver Disability Awareness & Access training last month. Initiated by Disability Arts Network - DAN, a Goulburn based group established as an outcome of the Accessible Arts ‘Speak Up' consultation in the region last August, the session was well received by 17 participants from a range of arts and disability organisations. Accessible Arts can travel to any regional area in NSW to deliver Disability Awareness & 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
Creative Inclusive
NSW Don't DIS my ABILITY 2009
Now is the time to start planning an inclusive arts event during November and December 2009 to celebrate International Day of People with a Disability through the NSW Don't DIS My ABILITY campaign. Last year a total of 150 events, of which half were arts events, were held throughout the state and promoted on the Don't DIS my ABILITY website and in a broadsheet distributed state-wide. In 2009, Accessible Arts will be supporting high quality, sustainable projects that involve partnerships between the professional arts and disability sectors, through the allocation of a small number of arts grants of up to $1000. Advice and support on the what, how and who of running a Don't DIS My ABILITY Accessible Arts event is now available. Contact Becky Chapman, Arts Development Officer, tel: 02 9251 6499 or bchapman@aarts.net.au. Read more...
Accessible Dance: New Year, New Name
2009 has kicked off a new year of dance at the Wharf with the regular Saturday drop-in group run in conjunction with Sydney Dance Company. Now renamed Accessible Dance, this class for people with moderate intellectual disabilities has been coming together for five years to explore an eclectic mix of dance styles and movement. Dance routines, free expression, working with objects or instruments and finding the movement qualities in music ranging from Australian indigenous to Broadway musical, contemporary hip hop and classical symphony. Tutors include Yumi Shaefer, an experienced dance teacher and dance therapist and tutor John Daley, who ran a dance project, The Stars are Not too Far, for people with disability for seven years. Read more...
Open Program provides creative opportunities in Western Sydney
Accessible Arts and The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre are presenting a series of Shadow Puppetry workshops with local puppeteer, Stephen Carr. Katrina Douglas, Producer at the Q Theatre says, "The Q Theatre is thrilled to be running the workshops. The participants are having a great time with Stephen Carr and are working extremely hard on their end of term performance. We're looking forward to continuing working with this group next term". The Accessible Arts' Open Program is increasing creative opportunities for people with disability across arts centres in the Western Sydney region. Hawkesbury Regional Gallery will again be also running performance workshops in late April as part of this program. For further information on how you can be involved in the Open Program contact Alison Richardson on 9251 6499 (ext 5) or arichardson@aarts.net.au.
AART.BOXX enters a new age: Call for works by emerging artists with disabilities
AART.BOXX is Accessible Arts' national exhibition of works by emerging artists with a disability. It aims to extend and challenge the current discourses within contemporary art by highlighting art practices that are informed by cultures of disability. Now in its fourth year, AART.BOXX 09 will for the first time open this opportunity to emerging artists of all ages. Recent works created after January 2008 in any art form/medium from anywhere in Australia are eligible. Applications for pre-selection close Friday 15 May 2009. AART.BOXX 09 will be held at Mori Gallery, Sydney from 29 October to 7 November 2009. For further information contact Josie Cavallaro, Arts Development Officer on 02 9251 6499 (ext 4) or email jcavallaro@aarts.net.au.
Casting call for new one act play
A male actor between the ages of 25 and 35 who is also a wheelchair user is wanted for the role of Simon, the romantic lead in a new Australian one act play. ‘Cohabitation' by Sydney based playwright Jane Malone, is a romantic comedy being produced as ‘a co-op.' Beginners to professional actors welcome to apply. Rehearsals will start early August with production running from 21 September to the 17 October at the newly renovated theatre at Bondi Pavillion. Following the success of Jane's first play, ‘The Naming' in 2005, she was appointed Writer-In-Residence at The Crypt Theatre Balmain, and commissioned to write her second play ‘The Rumour' shortly afterwards, which went on to be commended in the Victorian Fellowship of Australian Writers' Awards and short-listed for the 2007 NSW Premier's Literary Prize (Play). For further information please contact Jane at jeamalone@gmail.com.
Gothic fairytale with Auslan and old-world marionettes
Gertrude Grimstone (Aspyhxia), circus performer, puppeteer and one of Australia's leading Deaf artists is presenting her new puppet production "The Grimstones" at Peninsula Theatre, Woy Woy from 21 to 22 April, 10 am & 2.30 pm daily. This gothic fairytale is told with handcrafted old-world marionettes, giant books and sign language. Suitable for family audiences, those who enjoy Harry Potter, Edward Scissorhands or The Adams Family will love "The Grimstones". Gertrude will also run signing workshops daily at 12 pm combining music, song and dramatic expression as she teaches the Australian classic song ‘My Island Home' in Auslan. For more information and bookings phone Peninsula Theatre Box Office 02 4323 3233.
Actor Christine Bruno and playwright Jane Malone
at Accessible Arts.
Artist Profile: Christine Bruno, New York based actor, director and teaching artist
International focus: Christine Bruno recently visited Australia to present a keynote address at the Art of Difference disability and Deaf arts festival in Melbourne and present her one woman comedy routine at D-Lite: Art of D's Variety Showdown. With a short visit to Sydney, Accessible Arts met with Christine to learn about her work on stage, in television and film. Since 2005, Christine has also worked as Disability Advocate for Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, a not-for-profit advocacy organisation based in New York City. Committed to addressing issues faced by artists with disabilities, the Alliance is a leading resource to the entertainment industry regarding standards and practices in programming, hiring, casting and production. The alliance assists individuals and organisations to develop projects that reflect the changing landscape of disability, introduce provocative ideas about disability, and promote authentic representation of what it means to be a person with a disability in the 21st century.
Hip Hop takes over Youth Week
Twelve hip hoppers have been working at Powerhouse Youth Theatre alongside Aussie B-Boy Morganics to create an original song to be performed at two of Western Sydney's biggest Youth Week festivals, The ‘Burbs in Blacktown' & 'Bring It On!' in Fairfield. Taking place on the weekend of Saturday 4 April and Sunday 5 April, hundreds of young people will experience live acts, performances, competitions and lots more. Accessible Arts Creative Programs Coordinator, Alison Richardson says "It is a fantastic opportunity for the group to be performing on the hip hop stage at these two huge Western Sydney events and is a great way to expose to the wider public the talents of these guys." This project is the beginning of a more extensive hip hop program planned for the future. For more information about the gigs or becoming involved contact Alison Richardson on tel: (02) 9251 6499 (ext 5) or email: arichardson@aarts.net.au or Claudia Chidiac on tel: (02) 9724 6077 or email: claudia@pyt.com.au.
Other events & opportunities
- Film Shoot looking for assistants - call out to aspiring film makers with disabilities
- Access Newsletter - Sydney Opera House Accessibility News
- Free filmmaking for Young Carers - Bradfield Park Wellbeing Centre Carers Program
- Dance for people with disabilities - classes in Artarmon for children, teens and adults
- Courses in Art & Design - COFA continuing program courses
- Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship 2009 - call out for international scholarship opportunity
- Call for works - Another Door Opens Art Award Exhibition
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 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.