Accessible Arts / arts + disability NSW

Taking the Lead

Claw Hand by Camilla Connolly.

Program announced for Arts Activated National Conference 2010

With the draft program now online, Accessible Arts presents the second national Arts Activated National Conference: Arts – Access – Excellence, bringing together leading thinkers, artists, advocates, practitioners and producers to create dialogue about and showcase examples of excellence in arts and disability. Presentations, workshops, panels and performance from Australia and overseas bring into focus innovation, process and practice across a diversity of art forms. International speakers include keynote speaker Jenny Sealey, MBE, Artistic Director Graeae Theatre Company and Artistic Advisor to Unlimited from the UK, Sue Williams, Arts Council England, UK and Tony McCaffrey, Artistic Director of Different Light Theatre Company, NZ. Pre-Conference Dance Masterclasses led by Restless Dance Company Artistic Director Philip Channells will be presented. Phillip also joins Rafael Bonachela, Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company and internationally acclaimed choreographer, on a panel exploring inclusive dance practice in Australia and overseas. Arts practices and programs within the disability sector are also strongly represented in the two-day program. Early Bird registrations open mid November via online payments - book early to secure your place at this major national arts & disability event for 2010.

Accessible Arts CEO Sancha Donald

National Arts and Disability Strategy clear vision forward

The Cultural Ministers Council as released the National Arts and Disability Strategy, providing a clear vision for improving access and participation in artistic and cultural opportunities for people with disabilities. Accessible Arts CEO Sancha Donald said, ‘The National Arts and Disability Strategy provides clear areas of focus for both the Arts and Disability sectors to work together on.’ The Strategy is the result of extensive consultation, including 115 submissions made in response to a discussion paper released in late 2008, targeted consultation with arts and disability peak bodies, and consultation with government agencies at all levels. The Strategy provides a framework within which jurisdictions can assess and improve existing activities. It also identifies new priority projects that could be progressed as national initiatives or by individual jurisdictions. Read more...

AART.BOXX 2009 exhibition opening.

Emerging artists strengthen links within arts & disability at AART.BOXX 09

On Thursday 29 October 2009, more than 250 audience members came to the Mori Gallery in Sydney for the opening of AART.BOXX, Accessible Arts’ national exhibition for artists with disability. From Carla Wherby’s pen and ink collages of African-American entertainers at the entrance, to video art from Kevin Comty and Linda Wilken, the gallery was packed with viewers enjoying the works on display. AART.BOXX was initially developed to address the lack of support and access to professional development for young artists with a disability. This year the exhibition was extended to emerging artists of all ages. A passionate and diverse community has been created with this variation, and strong representation from both the arts and disability sectors attended the opening, including Museums & Galleries NSW, Penrith Regional Gallery, The Festivalists, Studio Artes, Roomies and Miroma. Read more...

Profile: Dr Ju Gosling, UK based multimedia artist

Dr Ju Gosling, UK based artist, multimedia storyteller and webmaster, explores the relationship between art, science and disability in her art practice. She works largely within the theories and traditions of the international Disability Arts movement and since 1997 has taken great interest in the cyborg/body augmentation discourse, including performance art that explores the social construction of disability. Arts Access Australia, the national organisation for arts and disability, have sponsored the acclaimed UK artist to deliver a keynote address at a symposium taking place in Melbourne on the 23 and 24 November 2009. The Super Human Revolution of the Species symposium is being presented by ANAT, the Australian Network for Art & Technology, bridging art, science & technology and enriching culture and industry in Australia. Read more...

Creative Inclusive

First Flight Crew ‘in da house’ with Richard Wilkins

The First Flight Crew had their fifth gig at ‘Comedy Is King’ at The Westin Hotel, Martin Place in late September 09. This event was a major fundraiser night for Down Syndrome NSW and the Crew was invited to open the evening the only way they know how - with break dancing and beat boxing. Marky Mark, one of the Crew, got the night started with his solo piece Marky Mark in da House, followed by the whole seven piece outfit raising the roof with their song, Funky Air Style Guitar Noises. Nam and Marky then broke out into some beat boxing wooing the crowds with their scratching and beats. MC Richard Wilkins commented on “how fantastic” the performance was and the event raised over $70,000. Read more…

Integrated Dance workshop with Margot Politis,
August 09

Call out: Committee to drive inclusive Dance Masterclass series

Accessible Arts is looking for volunteer Dance Committee members to drive and co-ordinate a pre-Arts Activated Conference Dance masterclass series. Beyond Technique | Searching for Authenticity will be led by Philip Channels, Artistic Director of Restless Dance theatre as a pre-Arts Activated Conference event. Philip will also present a paper and participate in a dance panel at Arts Activated. The Dance Committee will gain valuable experience being involved in this project, including documenting the masterclass series using film, audio, and developing web content. Learning about access and contributing to building awareness in the arts and disability sectors about inclusive dance will also be involved. Participation is by application and is open to people with and without disability in NSW. Deadline for applications is 1 December 2009. The committee will begin on 9 January 2010. Read more...

Angela Bell, Creating Dreams project.

Don’t DIS My ABILITY creating dreams

The Creating Dreams workshops and exhibition is the first step in an ongoing community partnership between Cessnock Regional Art Gallery and Endeavour Industries. For several months now, a group of people from Endeavour have visited the gallery fortnightly to view exhibitions and participate in artist led workshops, creating artworks that will be exhibited for International Day of People with Disability. This is one of 11 projects assisted by Accessible Arts Small Grants for Don’t DIS My ABILITY. The campaign includes a statewide online listing of all events registered for International Day celebrations and the broadsheet Made You Look has hit the streets, profiling 2009 campaign ambassadors. Camilla Connolly, artist and winner of the 2008 Waverley Art prize is one of a handful of ambassadors from the arts. Camilla will present the paper Different Strokes – An Artist with Aspergers Sydnrome at Accessible Arts’ Arts Activated Conference 2010.

May Barrie, time and tide granite monolith II,
Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2009, photograph
Nina van Ewijk.

Partnership improves access to Sculpture by the Sea

Accessible Arts’ Access to Festivals Coordinator, Anneke Barnes has co-presented a disability awareness and access information session with Artistic Director David Hanley, to over 30 volunteers who are contributing to the production of this year’s Sculpture by the Sea exhibition. Positive language, information on different types of disability and a briefing on guided touch tours were covered. This work launches a three-year partnership between Accessible Arts and the exhibition, that will expand access initiatives in the long term and has already delivered improvements in access through information, audio described guided tours and Ford cars collecting and dropping off visitors at either end of the coastal walk. On the 29 October, The Balnaves Foundation Sculpture Prize of $60,000 was awarded to 91-year-old Australian sculptor May Barrie, for her work time and tide grantie monolith II. The exhibition continues until 15 November 2009.

The Boys Are Back, dir Scott Hicks

Access fully covered by touring film festival

Karina Libby, Festival Coordinator of Access All Areas Film Festival 2009, is energized about new developments happening this year at the festival, which emphasizes access is at the core of this touring event. “ We've learned a lot from our partners and audiences following the initial tour last year. The key is creating and growing relationships with service providers, community groups and the disability community across NSW. We’re reaching new communities, have introduced a kids program which will visit schools for children with disabilities, and are offering an open forum for discussion to share models of best practice.” The Access All Areas Film Festival will visit venues across NSW from 16 November to 3 December 2009. The event will feature free screenings of acclaimed Australian films, all fully accessible with audio description, captions, wheelchair access and Auslan interpreted Q&A sessions. Read more...

Raymond Luk plays Soundbeam

UK Profiles: The Art House and Drake Music

Highlighting the arts and disability sector in the United Kingdom continues, with two new profiles of organistions visited by CEO of Accessible Arts, Sancha Donald in July 2009. The Art House in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, is an inclusive organization offering support to all visual artists in the development of their professional practice and the realisation of their creative ambitions. It was created in 1994, by a group of visual artists who campaigned for equality of access to opportunities for work, training and exhibiting for artists with and without disability. Drake Music is a music and technology organization in London, providing musicians with disability of all ages, routes into music and the cultural sector in general. Since 1988 they have pioneered the use of Assistive Music Technology to make music accessible and have developed a wealth of innovative and creative approaches to teaching, learning and making music through a range of music and cross-art initiatives. Read more...

Other Events and Opportunities

• International News - USA TV Foundations assist filmmakers with disabilities

• Miroma Community Fair - showcases the work of people with disability with an art exhibition in Vaucluse.

• VeryAbility Festival – a number of events being the culimination of a creative project in the Northern Rivers region.

• Sydney Symphony: Music for Health Concert - a music performance for adults living with disabilities and their carers at the Powerhouse Museum.

• Junction 2010 - Regional Arts Australia national conference call for papers

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.