Accessible Arts / arts + disability NSW

Taking the Lead

Information session to assist Companion Card Affiliates

Accessible Arts, National Disability Services and Sydney Opera House will host an information session relating to implementation of the Companion Card for Affiliates and potential Affiliates of the program. The Companion Card was launched in NSW by the Minister for Disability Services, Paul Lynch MP on 28 March 2008. It will enable fair ticketing for people with severe or profound disabilities who require carer support to attend events and venues. Currently, three quarters of the 240 businesses registered to accept the Companion Card are arts organisations. The information session will inform these affiliates about implementation. It will also inform arts organisations yet to affiliate with the program, why it makes sense to accept the Companion Card at their events and venues." Sancha Donald, CEO Accessible Arts commented, "It is pleasing to note that the Arts sector is leading the way in signing up to the scheme and demonstrating their commitment to improving access for people with disability in the community." Read more...

Debbie Wills and Vision Australia guest speaker
Nic Gleeson at recent training

Regional arts worker gets Quick Response Grant for disability awareness training

Regional Focus: A professional development grant from the Regional Arts Fund Quick Response Grants, enabled Deniliquin based visual artist, Debbie Wills, the opportunity travel to Sydney to attend Accessible Arts TAFE accredited Disability Awareness and Access training last month. Debbie said "I gained a greater understanding of the access needs of people with a disability who wish to attend exhibitions and events." In partnership with Intereach NSW, Debbie has run art workshops for people with disability in South West NSW. "The training also helped me get a greater understanding of what is required to make future workshops accessible to all." Debbie also visited two arts and disability programs whilst in Sydney, and hopes to work with South West Arts and local disability agencies in the region to provide permanent arts programs in the future. For more information on Disability Awareness and Access training contact Jane Pollard, Training Manager tel: 02 9251 6499, ext 3 or training.manager@aarts.net.au. The next TAFE accredited Disability Awareness and Access training is planned for October 2009.

Latest feature from Adam Elliot receives good reviews in Australia

Mary and Max, the new feature film by Melbourne filmmaker Adam Elliot, is based on the story of a friendship between an eight-year-old girl from Melbourne and a severely obese 44-year-old New Yorker with Asperger's Syndrome. "The film deals with the term 'disability' and how the main character, Max, doesn't like the term applied to him," says Elliot. "He likes his Asperger's syndrome and doesn't want it to be cured." Other characters in the feature include Max's cleaner, who has low vision and Mary's neighbour, who is a wheelchair user with agoraphobia. In 2003, Elliot won an Oscar for his short film animation Harvie Krumpet, which also had disability themes. He has also been the patron of Melbourne's Other Film Festival since its inception. Mary and Max was the first Australian film and the first claymation (a film animated with clay) to open the Sundance Film Festival in October last year. It is narrated by Barry Humphries and stars the voices of Philip Seymour Hoffman, Toni Collette, Eric Bana and Renee Geyer. It is currently screening in cinemas Australia wide.

Call Out: Musicians with a disability in NSW

Accessible Arts is conducting research about the experiences of musicians with a disability in NSW. Topics include identifying pathways that currently exist for people with a disability to pursue formal and informal music training or professional development; identifying potential resources available to facilitate music development and identifying the career pathways or barriers that exist for practising musicians with a disability. Information gathered will contribute to the development of a new state wide Accessible Music Program. To express interest in contributing to this research or to find out further information about the forum contact Becky Chapman, Arts Development Officer, tel: 02 9251 6499 ext 4 or bchapman@aarts.net.au.

Two weeks left to comment on ‘Speak Up' findings online

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.

New position to focus on access to festivals

Accessible Arts has engaged Anneke Barnes in the new position of Access to Festivals Coordinator. Anneke's role will bring festivals and audiences together in an open forum to identify access initiatives that have been successfully implemented and facilitate discussion about creating inclusive opportunities for audiences, artists and arts professionals with disability. Large and small festivals from regional and metropolitan areas will be invited to participate. Anneke holds a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Technical Production), NIDA. She has worked on festivals such as Sydney Festival, Vibe Alive Festival and large-scale events including the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 16th Asian Games. For more information about Access to Festivals contact Anneke on (02) 9251 6499 ext 107 on Mondays and Fridays or abarnes@aarts.net.au.

Creative Inclusive

Food Court illuminates Back to Back's excellence

Back to Back Theatre, a unique ensemble of actors with disabilities from Geelong, Victoria will present their newest work Food Court with music from Australian cult band, The Necks at Sydney Opera House. As part of Luminous, a festival curated by Brian Eno, Back to Back Theatre take their place amongst world renowned artists and visionaries such as Lee ‘Scratch' Perry, Jon Hassell, Seum Kuti and Egypt 80. Food Court is part concert, part theatre show and premiered in Australia last October as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival to sold out audiences and much critical acclaim. Following the European premiere at the Kunstenfestivaldearts in Belgium, Sydney Opera House will present two shows only on Tuesday 9 June and Wednesday 10 June 2008. Read more...

Auslan at Sydney Writers' Festival Special Event

Accessible Arts has partnered with the Sydney Writers' Festival to provide an Auslan interpreter for special event, International Voices on Saturday 23 May at 7.00 pm. This event features a selection of readings by award-winning writers from across the globe. Authors, poets and playwrights from Nigeria, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Netherlands, America and Australia will read from their latest books and the presentation of The Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Australian Novelist awards for 2009 will be announced. The festival will host a week of events from the 18 to the 24 May at Pier 2/3, Walsh Bay and at other suburban and regional venues. Tickets are selling fast and early bookings are recommended by phone (02) 9250 1988 or online at Sydney Theatre Box Office.

Call Out: Accessible Arts Bundanon Residency

In partnership with the Bundanon Trust, Accessible Arts is providing an artist in residency opportunity for a NSW artist with a disability. Artists practicing in the visual arts, design, digital technologies, film, literature, dance and theatre are eligible to apply. The successful applicant will undertake a four-week residency at the Bundanon properties on the Shoalhaven River in April 2010 and receive a $3000 stipend. Scott Trevelyan, Northern Rivers based master printmaker was the recipient in 2008. He said, "The attention and focus I was able to dedicate to my practice whilst at Bundanon was priceless. This meditative-like state enabled me to produce a more informed and resolved quality in my artwork." Applications close 1 July 2009. For further information contact Josie Cavallaro, Arts Development Officer on 02 9251 6499 ext 4 or jcavallaro@aarts.net.au. Read more...

Western Sydney Open Program

Accessible Arts' Open Program in Western Sydney continues to improve access for people with disability to attend quality arts workshops at arts centres across the region. Shadow Puppetry at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre with local puppeteer Stephen Carr is continuing throughout term two. The last workshop series culminated in a performance resulting in increased interest in the workshops. A waiting list is now operating for enrolments. The Hawkesbury Regional Gallery will present drama workshops commencing on Tuesday 5 May. This 10-week workshop program for people of all abilities will provide skills in movement, voice, character and improvisation and is being facilitated by arts worker Katy Green. To enrol contact Hawkesbury Regional Gallery on tel: 02 4560 4440.

Artist Profile: Ana Nguyen, Western Sydney based singer/songwriter and actor

Ana Nguyen has been writing songs since she was twelve. She currently has several Japanese pop / hip hop recordings on MySpace Music. Her participation in the Mixed Abilities Ensemble and recent Powerhouse Youth Theatre production Hard Daze, saw two of her original songs being used for the production. ‘Economy Sick' and ‘The Revolt' were chosen by the ensemble to reflect the hopeless situation people with disabilities can sometimes face in the work force. Ana worked with Western Sydney based musicians and sound artists Pete Condello and Milo Taylor of Brickhouse Productions to record the tracks. Her acting credits include past productions with Powerhouse Youth Theatre including City Quest, 2007 and Divine Places, 2005. She has performed her music regularly at community events and is working on new material for her an upcoming album. Her original track ‘Makes em wanna hurt da pain' was selected for AART.BOXX 2008.

Other events & opportunities

• Audio Description Information Sessions - Vision Australia present information sessions on the use of Audio Description to access the arts.

• World without words - Works by artists with disability from Bonnah Creative Arts Centre.

• Inside Out - Performance at Seymour Theatre explores impact of mental illness on the relationship between mother and son.

• Call for Papers - VSA arts International Conference paper proposals.

• I walk the line: Access Tour - Auslan interpreted and Audio Described tour of exhibition of new Australian Drawing at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

• Metroscreen Grants - Production and Jumpstart Grants for emerging filmmakers.

• Blue Mountains Fiction Writing Course - six week writing course for new writers and those with works-in-progress.

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.