Accessible Arts / arts + disability NSW

Taking the Lead

Erin Brannigan, founder of ReelDance, Rafael Bonachela,
artistic director of Sydney Dance Company, Philip Channells,
artistic director, Restless Dance Theatre, Gaelle Mellis,
designer, Restless Dance Theatre and Jo Dunbar, UK based
dance theatre artist

Dance fundamentals stretched by Arts Activated

A focus on the place and practice of inclusive dance in Australia gathered a strong presence at Accessible Arts’ national conference, held in March at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney. A series of preconference master-classes, a panel presentation, a contemporary dance theatre solo performance and a triptych of short films on dance, engaged performers, educators, choreographers and directors from Australia and overseas in the discussion and demonstration of inclusive dance practice. The preconference dance master-class event, Beyond Technique | Searching for Authenticity was a professional and intensive development of work over two days, led by Restless Dance Theatre, artistic director, Phillip Channells. Engaging 35 people, dancers and performers with and without disability contributed to the broad range of experience that gathered at CarriageWorks to participate. There were also non-dancers in the group, which created another layer to the collaboration. A showing of the work attracted an audience of approximately 100 people. Read more: Dance fundamentals stretched by Arts Activated.

Accessible Music Pathways Forum, Sydney Opera House

Music forum brings key players together

Accessible Arts presented a well-attended music forum in April at the Sydney Opera House, which identified strategies to broaden accessible music pathways for young people with disability. Over 30 musicians, artistic directors, program managers, music teachers and disability service coordinators participated in the Accessible Music Pathways Forum at the Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House on 23 April 2010. Richard Gill OAM, Musical Director of Victorian Opera addressed the forum, emphasising the intrinsic and extrinsic benefits of music for the enriched learning of all young people. He said, “It is the right of every child to have access to specialised music teachers throughout their education.” Pat Rix, Artistic Director of the Tutti Ensemble from South Australia, also presented at the forum. She spoke about the creative potential as well as the equity issues of inclusive practice. Read more: Music forum brings key players together.

Kelly Vincent (right) presenting with PJ Rose, Artistic
Director, No Strings Attached Theatre of Disability at
Arts Activated National Conference 2010.

Emerging playwright and performer makes political history

Kelly Vincent, Adelaide based emerging playwright and performer, made Australian Parliamentary history when she recently won the 11th Legislative Council seat in the South Australian 2010 State elections. As the youngest elected Upper House Parliamentarian in Australian history, the youngest female elected to any Parliament in Australia and the first Australian Parliamentarian elected on a disability platform, Kelly will use her Dignity for Disability seat to voice change for people with disabilities. Kelly is also a passionate member of theatre company No Strings Attached Theatre of Disability. The twenty-one year old was named co-winner of State Theatre’s Young Guns playwriting competition for her one-act play Gravity in 2009. As a Richard Llewellyn Arts & Disability Trust grant recipient Kelly is also undertaking a new creative development theatre work entitled StartSpace as writer/director. Read more: Emerging playwright and performer makes political history.

Exploration of artistic abilities receives Accessible Arts Award

Kogarah Municipal Council in partnership with St George School and artist Sonja Karl has been awarded the Accessible Arts Award as part of the 2010 Local Government Cultural Awards, for their collaborative project Movement in Space. The main objective of the project included providing an avenue for students with a disability to explore their artistic abilities with the assistance of a professional artist and to foster partnerships between Council, local artists and disability services. A total of 48 students with a disability participated in the project and works were exhibited, including five large murals, during 2009 International Day of People with a disability at the Council’s Library and Cultural Centre. Sancha Donald, CEO Accessible Arts said, “In winning the award, Kogarah Municipal Council showed a deep understanding that art can be created using methods that allow, in this case, children with disability, to produce interesting works.” Read more: Exploration of artistic abilities receives Accessible Arts Award.

The Blind Boys of Alabama in Sydney at Vivid LIVE

Five-time Grammy winners, The Blind Boys of Alabama, have spread the spirit and energy of gospel music for over 60 years, ever since the first version of the group formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939. They will perform with special guest Lou Reed at the Vivid LIVE Festival at Sydney Opera House on 5 June 2010. When The Blind Boys of Alabama first started singing, it was never anticipated they would perform beyond a small circuit of Southern black-community churches in the United States.  By the 1980s, however, the group’s breakthrough appearance in an Obie award-winning musical – “The Gospel At Colonus” starring Morgan Freeman, led to diverse popularity far beyond the Blind Boys’ original core following. Since then they have released or reissued nearly 30 albums, five of which have garnered Grammy awards.  The Recording Academy honored the Blind Boys with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Read more: The Blind Boys of Alabama in Sydney at Vivid LIVE.

Creative Inclusive

Roxy Paine, Neuron, 2010, 17th Biennale of Sydney.
Image copyright © Roxy Paine, courtesy James Cohan
Gallery, New York.

Accessing the season of festivals in Sydney

The 17th Biennale of Sydney will open its doors on the 12 May 2010 with an array of contemporary art from around the world. Auslan interpreted and audio described tours at three main venues are being presented as part of the City of Sydney’s Lord Mayor Community Access Days. From the 17 May 2010, Sydney Writers’ Festival will be underway. The annual international event, The Big Reading, will be Auslan interpreted, highlighting works from international writers and announcing The Sydney Morning Herald’s Best Young Australian Novelist awards for 2010. The First Flight Crew will perform at the Writers’ festival this year, as part of Hip Hop Projections 5: Words from the West, at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta. The Sydney Film Festival will release its full program on 5 May 2010 with a lift out in the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday 7 May 2010. The festival runs from 2 to 14 June 2010 and will be offering a number of audio described and open captioned screenings.

Mentorship workshop at Sydney Theatre Company.
Photo courtesy Sasha Cohen.

Mentorship provides skills development and creative exchange

Ever After Theatre Company spent a week at Sydney Theatre Company in April, undertaking intensive workshops as part of a mentorship presented by Back to Back Theatre from Geelong in Victoria and supported by Australia Council for the Arts and Accessible Arts. The mentorship program was designed to inspire the creative and strategic development of Ever After Theatre Company led by the expertise of Back to Back Theatre. Back to Back Theatre artistic director Bruce Gladwin, artistic associate Marcia Ferguson, and ensemble members Nikki Holland and Brian Tilley, presented and facilitated a range of creative processes informed by their work as a leading contemporary theatre company with a distinctive artistic voice. “The mentorship also provided an opportunity for an exchange between Back to Back Theatre and Ever After Theatre Company.” Bruce Gladwin said. “It’s valuable to have the opportunity to work together with other contemporary theatre practitioners in arts and disability.” Read more: Back to Back mentorship program.

Arts Development Officer wanted for arts & disability in NSW

Accessible Arts is seeking an Arts Development Officer (part-time) to initiate projects that will lead to systemic change for people with disability wishing to engage in the performing arts.  This position requires a confident leader with a minimum of five years experience as a practicing artist in the performing arts.  Experience in arts administration and project management is also essential. The Arts Development Officer will work across both the arts and disability sectors.  The position is for two days a week initially. Download the Position Description and Duty Statement for more information. Applications close Monday 10 May 2010.

British artist draws Sydney cityscape to mark Autism month

Stephen Wiltshire, a British artist internationally renowned for drawing detailed cityscapes, spent the last week of April at Customs House in Circular Quay, Sydney, creating his latest work, an image of the city as seen from Sydney Tower. Stephen is particularly skilled in drawing lifelike, accurate representations of cities, sometimes after having only observed them briefly. The 36-year-old artist, who was diagnosed with autism when he was three, produced a pen and ink drawing of the harbour city after examining its skyline for just 20 minutes. Stephen was invited to Australia by Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) to coincide with Autism Month. Painting the Spectrum, an exhibition of 50 works by participants from the Autism Spectrum Australia Community Participation Adult Day Program, also contributed to Stephen’s show at Customs House, Circular Quay which continues until 15 May 2010. Read more: British artist draws Sydney cityscape to mark Autism Month.

Governor Marie Bashir receives portrait from Studio ARTES artist

An artist in residency project undertaken by six artists from Studio ARTES at Government House, has fostered the ongoing development of the artists, including an opportunity to meet Her Excellency, Governor Marie Bashir. For three consecutive Fridays in August 2009, the artists, accompanied by art teachers Emma Johnston and Gabrielle Mordy, created works on site at Government House. The resulting work was featured as the visual arts exhibition at the annual Garden Music Festival also held at Government House. Studio ARTES artist Daniel Kim painted Governor Baschir’s portrait as part of the residency project. After Her Excellency accepted an invitation to visit Studio ARTES, Daniel had the opportunity to personally present the portrait to the Governor on 14 April 2010. The artists in residency project has also led to other projects with Historic Houses, including a project with Rose Seidler House in Wahroonga. Read more: Governor Marie Bashir receives portrait from Studio ARTES artist.

Other Events and Opportunities

• Shopfront: Bodylines – movement and theatre workshops for young people with and without a disability

• Quiet Signs of Love: Casting call – Deaf actors wanted for short film being produced by the National Relay Service.

• Maura Fay Casting: Callout for actress – new television series seeking actress between 13-18 years who is a wheelchair user for guest role.

• Sydney Opera House: Access News – information on improved access, performances and the access community at Sydney Opera House

• Application by cinemas for exemption from the Disability Discrimination Action rejected

• Australian Government heritage funding program accepting applications - New funding program open

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.