Following the success of the audio-described Tactile Tour program in 2010, Sculpture by the Sea are partnering with Accessible Arts to offer people with vision impairment and people with intellectual disability the opportunity to engage with art in a hands-on guided experience.
Accessible Arts hosted the Festivals Forum in July 2011, to review access for people with disability at festival events throughout NSW. Representatives from fifteen festivals large and small, and supporting arts organisations, gathered at the Utzon Room at Sydney Opera House to attend the three hour forum.
As part of an agreement to support festivals to develop accessibility, Accessible Arts has provided training to Sculpture by the Sea staff for the third consecutive year. Twelve staff from all sections of the organisation attended three hours of Disability Awareness and Access training to further embed accessibility practices throughout their organisation.
Festivals are increasing in popularity and continue to give expression and exposure to innovative creative arts and culture, which in turn adds greater vibrancy to communities who share in these occasions. Accessible Arts will present a forum in July, to bring festival producers together to discuss the unique challenges they face when improving access to festival events.
Nastasia Campanella is a Sydney based freelance print, radio and online journalist who also happens to be blind. She recently attended one of the audio described tactile tours presented by Sculpture by the Sea in partnership with Accessible Arts and reported on the experience.News
Tours and Information improve access to Sculpture by the Sea 2009
The 2009 Sculpture by the Sea exhibition marks the beginning of a new partnership to support the delivery of access initiatives at one of Australia’s best known free annual outdoor sculptural exhibitions. This year the program will offer guided touch tours, self-guided touch tours and self guided mobility tours.
Accessible Arts is working with Sculpture by the Sea to provide access advice and support, update access information, provide a disability awareness briefing to volunteers and staff and develop access initiatives for future years.
Accessible Arts will also undertake a survey to evaluate access at the festival. Surveys will be available at the information tents at the exhibition or by email. Contact Anneke Barnes, Access to Festivals Coordinator email: abarnes@aarts.net.au for a copy of the survey.
Guided Touch Tours
Four Sculpture by the Sea guided touch tours are being presented by Carolyn Braithwaite, who has worked and volunteered for the past 10 years within the arts. All of the touch tours will be held at Marks Park, Tamarama.
Touch tours are designed for everyone, with selected works to be discussed and the opportunity to discover the sculpture through touch. This tour is ideal for people with low vision or people who are blind, with an interest in exploring sculpture with an experienced guide.
More information available on the What’s On page.
Self-guided touch tour
Self Guided Tours are also being presented, with a number of artworks accessible to touch and also comprehensive information about how to describe the sculptures to family or friends who have low vision or who are blind.
The sculptures featured in the self-guided touch tour run the full distance of the exhibition from Tamarama Beach to Bondi Beach.
Self Guided mobility tour
These guides are for use by people with limited mobility or who use a wheelchair and are specific to the accessible areas at Tamarama Beach Park and Marks Park. The guides detail the artwork in each area. The self-guided touch tours can be used in conjunction with the self guided mobility tour.
Access information and site map
The access information gives specific access details throughout the exhibition including drop off zones, parking, toilets and public transport. It is important to note that access to the exhibition can be congested on the weekends, as this is when the bulk of visitors attend. Sculpture by the Sea organisers have expressed that staff will be able to assist people with limited mobility along sections of the walk dependant on the number of visitors attending at the time. The best time to visit is during the weekdays.
It is essential to call ahead to the site office if using the drop off and pick up areas as access gates are locked during the exhibition period. For full information go to the Sculpture by the Sea website.