Carla Wherby, Auburn based visual artist and recipient of Accessible Arts’ AART.BOXX scholarship, travelled with her sisters Paula and Lisa to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra last month to study war objects, memorabilia and ephemera.
Sydney’s newest entertainment destination, The Concourse in Chatswood, will host Accessible Arts’ third Arts Activated National Conference in October 2012. This new cultural hub, many years in the planning and with considerable consultation with the disability sector and with Accessible Arts, is a leading example of accessibility within a world-class Arts centre.
Students from Halinda School travelled from Whalan in Western Sydney to participate in the Tactile Tours - Access program at this year’s Sculpture by the Sea exhibition. Visiting the exhibition for the first time, Assistant Principal Anne Bennett is enthusiatisic about attending the exhibtion as a regular event on the Halinda school calendar.
Accessible Arts and Museums & Galleries NSW (M&G NSW) will present a one day seminar on 28 November 2011 to promote improved access to heritage listed buildings for audiences, staff and arts professionals with disabilities.
A new online resource produced by Accessible Arts, shares years of experience from artists who have achieved successful careers in the Arts, despite barriers than can exist surrounding access and disability.News
Matt Laffan 1970 - 2009
Those not acquainted with Matt Laffan may have read of his death recently and it is sad indeed. Matt provided comment on a number of Accessible Arts' projects.
His death is all the more sad because his talents, of which he had many, were allowed to fully develop. However, the focus on ability can sometimes cause us to forget that people with disability often have fragile health. Matt's death is a reminder that strong and effective inclusive practices need to be implemented across the arts sector to enable people with disability to realise their right to live as full a (cultural) life for as long as possible.
A memorial scholarship has been created by Matt Lavan's university peers and has currently accumulated $60,000 in pledges. This perpetual scholarship will enable university students with severe physical disability who possess strength of character, drive and leadership to be finanically supported through their degree.
View the 'Australian Story' episode "The Laffan Legacy".