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Newsletter :: July 2009
Congratulations to all those involved in the production of A Good Man (pictured left with Bryan Brown and Rachel Ward) for winning the 2009 Foxtel Australian Documentary Price at this year's Sydney Film Festival and highlighting Accessible Cinema through excellence. Congratulations also to Nevada and Carole Carlstrom who won tickets to Back to Back's latest production Food Court at the Sydney Opera House last month. This month Accessible Arts has eight complimentary copies of the publication "Putting Creativity to Work - Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities." Published by VSA arts in the United States, this book outlines steps towards a successful career in the arts. To win a copy email info@aarts.net.au and in 25 words or less describe why this book would be useful to own.
Taking the Lead
Club Wild present workshop on contemporary song
making for all, Arts Activated 2007.
Invitation to Present at Arts Activated 2010
Accessible Arts is inviting submissions for proposals to present at the 2010 Arts Activated Conference, 25 & 26 March 2010, at the Powerhouse Museum Sydney. The conference aims to be interactive and will include creative presentations that incorporate participatory elements. All proposals are to address the theme ‘Arts - Access - Excellence' and demonstrate innovation, process and practice. Presentation styles will include lectures, workshops and panels. An ‘Invitation to Present' application form is now available to download and the deadline for submissions is 31 August 2009. People with disability are encouraged to submit an application to present. In 2007, presenting at the Arts Activated Conference increased the profile and promoted the work of a variety of practitioners and performers in the arts and disability sectors. For further assistance regarding the application process or to discuss your proposal idea contact Jane Pollard, Training Manager tel: 02 9251 6499 (ext 106) or jpollard@aarts.net.au.
Development Manager - new position vacant at Accessible Arts
A new position at Accessible Arts will oversee all aspects of annual fundraising activities including developing and implementing the annual fundraising strategy, writing grant applications and building relationships with potential sponsors, to raise funds for the emerging area of arts and disability. Key to this role will be the process of building relationships and raising revenue from philanthropic trusts and foundations, corporate entities and the general public, as well as raising the profile of Accessible Arts within each of these sectors. This is a start up position with great potential. As such however, it does not have administrative support or the use of specific fundraising tools. Within the arts sector Accessible Arts has good potential to be a substantial beneficiary of the philanthropic sector. Read more...
Sancha Donald CEO Accessible Arts and Mark Sarfaty
CEO Sydney Film Festival at the Festival program
launch 2009.
CEO creates links with arts & disability in UK
An opportunity for the CEO of Accessible Arts to spend a week visiting arts and disability organisations in London, will raise the international profile of NSW's arts and disability sector as well as provide a valuable opportunity to experience current arts and disability practices in the United Kingdom. Sancha Donald will visit a variety of programs that model innovative strategies to enable people with disability to experience and participate in the arts. The Art House in London is one example. This artist run initiative works to campaign for equality and access to opportunities for work, training and exhibiting for visual artists with and without a disability. The production company Mind the Gap is another example. Based in Bradford, Yorkshire this theatre company assists people with learning difficulties to become professional actors and helps actors with learning disabilities achieve their potential. Follow Sancha's London tour on Twitter between the 14 to the 18 July to find out more about her visit to the UK.
Access top priority at Australian Museum
Accessible Arts has been working closely with the Australian Museum to establish a Disability Action Plan. This process has included internal and external consultations representing a cross-section of staff and people with a variety of disabilities. The Plan will be adopted following feedback from the Museum's Executive and Senior Management. The Museum has also recently launched a new website that has been established in line with W3C Accessibility Initiative Guidelines and has incorporated recommendations from user testing by people with low vision. The new website includes expanded access information for people with disability and a podcast of research undertaken on Museum Audiences with Disabilities. An open day on the 5 July, provided free admission for diverse audiences to view some of the 16 million objects behind the scenes a the Museum. To keep informed about future events and activities at the Museum or to contribute comments, images and audio files the general public can join the Australian Museum's new website.
Alison Richardson and participants of Epic Arts'
Vocational Training Program
International exchange builds on experience at Accessible Arts
As part of a professional development strategy at Accessible Arts, staff are securing work placement opportunities with local and international organisations in the arts and disability sectors, to foster and exchange knowledge, skills and experience. During a recent trip overseas, Alison Richardson, Accessible Arts' Creative Programs Coordinator spent a week at Epic Arts Cambodia, an arts organisation that provides visual art, drama, dance and music projects to children who have disabilities or who are disadvantaged. Alison visited their new accessible arts centre in Kampot in the south of Cambodia and presented performance workshops with a language translator and Khmer sign interpreter. Twelve full time performance training program participants, who are either Deaf or who have a disability, attended. "It is an indication of the hard work and dedication of all the Epic staff that these facilities and programs exist. I was very fortunate to visit Epic and teach such vibrant, hungry to learn, animated young people," commented Alison Richardson.
Regional NSW ‘Speak Up' findings presented at Regional Arts Australia consultation
Regional Focus: Accessible Arts attended the recent Regional Arts Australia national consultation in Bathurst, to communicate information gathered by the organization at Arts & Disability ‘Speak Up' forums held in regional NSW in 2008. Regional Arts Australia is currently exploring the role of arts and culture for regional Australians. Accessible Arts contributed to this national consultation by highlighting the needs of people with disability in regional NSW to experience full access to the arts. "Social inclusion and strategies to develop partnerships between arts and non-arts groups were emphasized, including increased provision of Disability Awareness and Access training for those working in the arts in regional areas," commented Jacqui O'Reilly, Communications Coordinator Accessible Arts. An online survey is now available for people in regional NSW to contribute to the national consultation. Results from the survey and consultation will be used by Regional Arts Australia to focus their lobbying of the federal government about the role of arts and culture for regional Australians.
Creative Inclusive
Professor Ron McCallum AO launches the Accessible
Cinema strand at Sydney Film Festival
Sydney Film Festival Wrap: New access technology provided and new doco prize awarded
This year's partnership with the Sydney Film Festival delivered an Accessible Cinema strand within the festival program that included accessible film screenings, two industry forums, an opportunity to experience Rear Window access technology and five films that directly addressed living with a disability. Professor Ron McCallum AO, United Nations Special Rapporteur for Disability, launched the Accessible Cinema program followed by a screening of A Good Man, (dir Safina Uberoi), the story of a struggling Australian farmer, his wife who has quadriplegia and their plans to open a brothel in the NSW rural town of Inverall. This documentary was an entrant in the 2009 Foxtel Australian Documentary Price and went on to be awarded tie for first place along with Contact (dir Martin Butler, Bentely Dean). Trialing Rear Window access technology at a special event for industry stakeholders and audiences with captioning and audio description access requirements, provided an opportunity for Accessible Arts to introduce this technology within the festival environment. Read more...
Digital Photography workshops, Cobar NSW, small
grant recipient 2008.
Support available for Don't DIS my ABILITY projects and events
Applications are now open for Accessible Arts Small Grants of up to $1,000, for organisations and arts workers to create high quality arts events as part of the 2009 Don't DIS my ABILITY campaign that runs throughout November and December for International Day for People with a Disability 3 December 2009. Developed by the Department of Ageing Disability & Home Care, Don't DIS my ABILITY is a statewide campaign of events that aims to change misconceptions surrounding disability and create an environment that encourages participation. Ambassadors are selected as role models to support this campaign from the arts, sports and business. Accessible Arts will offer grants to a small number of high quality, sustainable projects that involve partnerships between the professional arts and disability sectors, plus support to organisers of arts events who need guidance or advice. The deadline for funding applications is August 17 2009. Download the Application form and guidelines for planning an event.
Weekend Art Project, Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre.
Disability Arts Workers contribute quality creative outcomes
Accessible Arts currently has a number of professional arts tutors listed on its website, promoting the skills and experience of a diversity of arts workers who are available to engage in inclusive projects and programs. The benefits of engaging a professional arts tutor are evidenced in the quality of creative outcomes. Artist Eric Niebuhre sharpened his skills as a disability arts worker, while devising arts programs at First Street Gallery in Claremont, California. This USA based arts centre supports the creative needs of adults with developmental disabilities. In Australia, Eric has facilitated painting workshops with the Brain Injury Respite Development Service and is currently delivering the weekend art project at Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre where he employs music and performance tools to encourage drawing techniques that respond to gesture, rhythm and mood. "We are really pleased to have someone of Eric's expertise working on the program," commented Sue Johnston, Manager, Groups and Arts Access at Rozelle Neighbourhood Centre. To employ an arts tutor for a creative program or International Day of People with a disability arts project see the Accessible Arts tutor page.
Hands Free Photography
Richard Kramer's passion for photography and desire to operate a digital SLR camera independently, despite having high level C4/C5 quadriplegia, led him to a variety of community organisations that assisted him to achieve his artistic pursuit. Passion for Pixels, an online forum of photographers, encouraged Richard to research the possibilities of adapting his camera and allowed him unlimited access to their forum to speak to members. Technical Solutions Australia, an organisation that specializes in electronic devises for people with disability, designed a switch that is operated by Richard's breath, one breath to focus, a second to take a picture. Technical Aid for the Disabled in the Illawarra, assisted with the development of a mini tripod that is mounted onto Richard's chin control and a gadget that allows Richard to operate the zooming on the camera lens. "Once the camera is mounted, I'm able to take as many photos as I like from my view of the world," explains Richard. To find out more about Richards ‘Hands Free' photography email r_kramer@tpg.com.au.
Profile: Rachel Murphy, emerging actor
In October last year, Rachel Murphy played Hermia, a lead role in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," performed by the Altogether Drama Company based in the Illawarra and presented at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre. As a member of Altogether Theatre, Rachel attends advanced acting classes on a weekly basis to continue to hone her performance skills. Her acting experience includes appearing in "Love & Kisses," a film about relationships made by the Disability Trust and playing a number of roles for production company Roo Theatre in Shellharbour. Rachel has also attend acting classes at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney, which broadened her skills and prepared her to embark on her career goals which include television acting. She also has an interest in writing, directing and producing films and short story writing. She states two of her inspirations are Daniel Radcliffe and JK Rowling. To find out more about Altogether Drama Company contact Wendy Good tel: 02 4228 8340.
Meroogal Woman's Art Prize 2009 call out
Regional focus: Entries are now open for the Historic Houses Trust's Meroogal Women's Arts Prize, inviting women to submit artworks inspired by historic house Meroogal in Nowra. This year's theme encourages entrants to explore titles in the Meroogal Museum library and contemplate the role of books and the world of ideas to which they give access. For the first time, artists from the Goulburn-Mulwaree area are eligible to enter the Prize, which is open to women aged 18 years or over who live in the local government areas of Shoalhaven, Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Eurobodalla, Bega Valley, Wingecarribee and Wollondilly. First prize for this regional, non-acquisitive competition is $2000. Entries close 20 July and artists are invited to visit Meroogal, open Saturdays 1pm to 5pm and Sundays 10am to 5pm, to explore the property and photograph or draw the books and belongings left by each generation. Mergoogal has limited wheelchair access, for more information contact the property tel: 02 4421 8150. The exhibition will be held at the Shoalhaven City Arts Centre commencing 29 August 2009.
Other Events and Opportunities
- Off the Edge - The Australian Ceramics Triennale assisted by Accessible Arts presents recent ceramic work by artists from across Australia.
- Elling at Sydney Theatre Company - After two years of sharing a room in a mental institution Elling and Kjell are allowed back into society. It's not that they're dangerous; they're just a little... hopeless.
- Mary Ablaza: Me, You and Everyone I know - The first solo exhibition by one of Studio ARTES most prolific artists.
- Louisa Bufardeci & Zon Ito: Auslan Interpreted Access Tour - This exhibition, is the fourth in a series of ‘international pairing' projects, and presents the work of Australian artist Louisa Bufardeci alongside Japanese artist Zon Ito.
- Show Your Photo to New York - National Down Syndrome Society in New York invites submissions of photos showcasing individuals with Down Syndrome for Time Square Video Contest.
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.