Accessible Arts / arts + disability NSW

Taking the Lead

Sancha Donald and the Hon. Cathy Branson QC, Australian
Human Rights Commission President

Accessible Arts highly commended by Australian Human Rights Commission

Accessible Arts received a Highly Commended certificate at the 2009 Australian Human Rights Awards, recognising its work promoting the cultural rights of people with disability. Accessible Arts was one of five organisations shortlisted in the Community (Organisation) category for the 2009 Awards, selected from more than 200 entries nominated from around Australia. Australian Human Rights Commission President, The Hon. Cathy Branson QC, congratulated Accessible Arts on its success at the prestigious 2009 Human Rights Awards and Medals. “The Commission recognises the extraordinary efforts of Accessible Arts in promoting and providing opportunities for people with disability to participate in arts and cultural activities,” she said. “I wish Accessible Arts all the best for its future efforts in overcoming barriers experienced by people with disability in accessing the richness of artistic and cultural life.” Read more...

Janelle Colquhoun to present at Arts Activated
National Conference 2010

To Be or Not To Be Excellent – Arts Activated National Conference 2010

Early-bird registrations have been extended until 18 January 2010 for the Arts Activated National Conference – a conference offering workshops, papers and presentations from across the nation and overseas, to provoke debate and discussion about ‘excellence’ in arts and disability. Janelle Colquhoun, Brisbane based opera singer, international arts and disability speaker and founder of entertainment and production agency Salubrious Productions, will present the paper "To Be or Not To Be Excellent." Janelle poses the question,"Are we using 'disability' in our marketing and promotion as the excuse for being something less?" The keynote speaker at the conference, Jenny Sealey MBE, is a high profile international voice in arts and disability. With ten years as Artistic Director of Graeae Theatre, the UK’s leading theatre company for people with disability and Artistic Advisor to Unlimited, the UK’s largest ever cultural disability program associated with London’s 2012 Olympics, Jenny’s address will set the tone for the conference theme Arts – Access - Excellence. Read more...

Natalie Hamam and Anthony Lloyd

Beyond 'Technique' to unleash inclusive dance opportunities

Natalie Hamam approached Accessible Arts during the middle of 2009 to enquire about dance companies that are accessible to people who are wheelchair users. Her and her partner Anthony Lloyd are not professional dancers, but have a passion for dance and go clubbing whenever they can. As part of an initiative to promote the accessibility of dance in NSW and increase opportunities for people like Natalie and Anthony, Accessible Arts is presenting a series of dance masterclasses, as a pre-Arts Activated conference event in March 2010. Natalie and Anthony have decided to give the classes a go. “Neither of us have a formal dance background, but would both like to experiment and learn more about dance techniques in a creative and accessible environment. We have done nothing like this before, which is a bit scary, but we love having adventures,” explains Natalie. Read more...

Policy and Research Officer vacancy at Accessible Arts

Would you like to work across the arts sector? Are you passionate about people with disability experiencing cultural opportunities? The position of Policy and Research Officer has become available with Accessible Arts. The position is responsible for researching and developing innovative audience development strategies and to develop policies to expand opportunities for people with disability who aspire to be involved in the arts and creative activities. Accessible Arts works to promote full inclusion, access  and participation in the arts for people with disabilities through advocacy, education and information. Salary range $50K (including superannuation). The position is three days per week. For more information read the position description with selection criteria. Contact Sancha Donald sdonald@aarts.net.au or tel: 02 9251 6499 ext 102. Applications close Friday 22 January 2010.

‘6’ dis/assemble dance, choreographer Tim
Podesta

Regional Arts Fund supports two new arts and disability projects in the regions

Innovation and artistic inclusion within NSW regional communities have been highlighted in a recent announcement of projects funded for 2010 by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund through Regional Arts NSW.  dis/assemble, a dance project based in Albury Wodonga, is the outcome of an ongoing partnership between Murray Arts and Skills Innovative Training Enterprises (SITE) under the guidance of Choreographer/Artistic Director Tim Podesta. In 2010, dis/assemble will create new contemporary dance works exploring notions of ability through dance and film. Kurrajong Waratah, a disability service provider based in the Eastern Riverina region, were successful in securing funding to establish a performing arts company in 2010. This project will provide a permanent venue for people with disability to develop their theatrical and staging skills. Regional Arts Australia has released its goals for the next five years after completing a national consultation across the country. Five key priority areas have been identified, including developing inclusive and resilient communities. Read more...

Fraser Pollock’s awarded winning work, Matthew
Jones Art Award 2009

Artist Profile: Fraser Pollock, visual artist

Fraser Pollock, a thirteen-year-old boy with Down syndrome from Cranbrook school, spends every spare moment with a pen in hand. Fraser has always liked to draw using a range of mediums from textas to gel pens and fills page after page of his sketchbooks. Over the years he has moved through different phases, from shapes to “tribal figures” to patterns. Fraser was recently awarded first prize in the open category of the 2009 inaugural Matthew Jones Art Award. Entries were judged by a panel that included Gene Sherman from the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation, Wairoa school deputy principal Annette Kay, artists Gary Shead and George Raftopoulos and Wentworth Courier editor David Mills. It was a significant moment for Fraser who takes his art seriously, winning an arts-based prize package and $1,000 for his school to use in their art or disability programs. Fraser's work has also caught the attention of curator Peter Fay and he will be included in an exhibition at the Shaffer gallery, Darlington in April 2010.

Creative Inclusive

Sensorial Exhibition, Katoomba Fine Art Gallery,
Disability Enterprises IDPWD'09

Representation of artistic ability on the rise

The Don’t DIS my ABILITY campaign continues to attract an increasing number of arts events, including participation from artists with disability as ambassadors, key speakers and entertainers at major functions. In 2009, nearly 85 per cent of events registered were arts related and included the visual arts, film, dance, sound and performance, bringing together arts and disability organisations to work towards an event, project or policy inclusive of people with disability. Stephanie Timmins, Don’t DIS my ABILITY Project Manager, Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care said, "We were happy to see that 83 per cent of events registered as part of the Don't DIS my ABILITY campaign had an arts related component, an increase of 20 per cent from 2008. We hope to have even more next year." Accessible Arts have supported the growth of these events in a number of ways since 2002. Read more...

Can-Do Performance Group, winner of Accessible
Arts Cultural Award at the Local Government
Cultural Awards 2009.

Cultural Awards in search of access

The annual NSW Local Government Cultural Awards are calling for entries. In 2010 the awards will focus on improving recognition for the importance and distinction of cultural achievements across the state. For the third year as part of the awards, the Accessible Arts Cultural Award will play an important part in highlighting projects that include people with disability. All entrants are asked to submit information on how people with disability are included in their initiatives. The entrant that best delivers a high level of inclusion will receive the Accessible Arts Cultural Award. Last year, the award highlighted a dozen excellent projects for, by or about people with disability conducted by councils in NSW. Sancha Donald CEO Accessible Arts commented, "This is a great opportunity for councils to showcase their projects and make a strong statement about the importance of inclusion in community arts." Entries are open until 26 February 2010.

Partnership key to work achieved in Western Sydney arts and disability

Powerhouse Youth Theatre’s dynamic partnership with Accessible Arts continues to deliver projects and resources in the Western Sydney area and beyond, including developing strategies to improve inclusion within school holiday performance programs and producing online resources for integrated performance settings. Throughout the second half of 2009, Accessible Arts and Powerhouse Youth Theatre established the interACT schools program. This program aims to integrate young people with a disability into mainstream school holiday performance programs at arts centres across Western Sydney. Another positive strategy that the partnership between PYT and Accessible Arts has achieved is the production of a comprehensive online resource kit to raise awareness about integrated performance. The interACT Resource Kit includes workshop plans and case studies from organisations and disability services across regional and metropolitan New South Wales, outlining the practice of working in an integrated performance setting. Read more...

Hamlet, Schaubuhne Berlin, dir Thomas Ostermeier, Sydney
Festival 2010

Sydney Festival 2010 access buzz

The Sydney Festival has launched the 2010 program, with Lindy Hume as the new Artistic Director. A number of free events and outdoor performances are being presented throughout the broader metropolitan area, starting with the Festival First Night on Saturday 9 January 2010 from 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm throughout the city. All areas are wheelchair accessible. Works by Sydney based artist, Lynette Wallworth, who specialises in the creation of immersive installation environments using forms that respond to the visitor, will show at Carriageworks. The MCA is presenting a free Auslan tour of the large-scale exhibition Take Your Time by Danish/Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. Schaubuhne Berlin is presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet with English surtitles. The Sydney Festival has become an affiliate of the Companion Card and has access information available on its website, including festival programs in Audio CD and large print formats.

UK Arts and Disability Peak Bodies

The final summary of organisations visited by Sancha Donald CEO Accessible Arts, during her week in the UK in July 2009 is focused on arts and disability peak bodies.  Shape is an organisation led by people with disability working to improve access to culture. They are the peak arts and disability organisation for the UK and have similar functions to Accessible Arts. They provide opportunities for artists with disabilities, train cultural institutions to improve access and run participatory arts and development programs. They focus on audiences, employment, participation and quality practice. Meeting with the Arts Council of England informed Sancha about progress being made towards the Equality Bill, which will see all areas of discrimination legislation combined under the one bill.  The Arts Council’s response to the bill will require all arts funded organisations to demonstrate how there planned activities are not discriminatory towards people with disability or in any other way.  As a consequence of engagement with the Arts Council of England, Sue Williams will speak on Disability Arts and Quality at the Arts Activated Conference in March 2010.

Other Events and Opportunities

• Emerge Outside Call Out – a series of fully accessible electronic music making master classes at the Performance Space.

• Access newsletter – the Sydney Opera House quarterly issue on accessibility

• Music and Performance Workshops – ongoing singing group of 18 to 35 year olds in Burwood.

• MCA Auslan Tour - Take your time: Olafur Eliasson

• Sydney Mad Pride Youth Event 2010 Call Out - Mad Pride raises public awareness of mental health issues and celebrates ‘mad culture’ through the performing arts.

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.