Accessible Arts / arts + disability NSW

Taking the Lead

The Gimp Project, DaDaFest 2010

DaDaFest 2010: A unique cultural perspective

The tenth DaDaFest, the UK's largest Disability and Deaf Arts festival will bring together artists from across the globe to showcase the best in Disability and Deaf Arts throughout November and December 2010. DaDaFest International 2010 presents art from a unique cultural perspective, challenging and entertaining audiences with the theme Objects of Curiosity and Desire. Australian choreographers Marc Brew and Caroline Bowditch present a brand new duet Leftovers, “an eclectic mix of discarded dances carefully gathered from the studio floor." Stelarc, influential Greek Australian-based performance artist will be in conversation with Liz Carr, radio announcer for the BBC ‘s disability talk show, Ouch! Stelarc, whose works focuses heavily on extending the capabilities of the human body, is currently a visiting Professor in the School of Arts at Brunel University, West London. Read more: DaDaFest 2010: A unique cultural perspective.

Plugged In Launch fills the house

Approximately 250 people attended the Plugged In Launch Party at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta on the 5 October 2010, demonstrating the enthusiasm of a number of disability services that would like to engage more with the arts as part of their programs. Robert Love, Director of Riverside Theatres launched the Plugged In program and said, “Plugged In is a wonderful initiative that aims to connect venues and disability programs in western Sydney. In October we focus on this accessibility but aim that it will increase in coming years.” Continuing throughout October 2010, Plugged In addresses some of the demand for free daytime cultural events for people with disability. The month long program of events not only draws a focus on improving access to the arts for people with disability, it reinforces the connection between the arts and disability sectors that has been supported by Accessible Arts’ Western Sydney project since 2007. Read more: Plugged In Launch fills the house.

Regional filmmaker attends Dome Lab 2010

Writer/filmmaker Robert Pickles is one of twenty artists selected by ANAT to attend an intensive workshop investigating the potential of ‘destination cinema’, a new direction in filmmaking that immerses audiences in a full dome, with hemispherical screens and surround sound. Based in the regional NSW town of Sutton, Robert currently works for the NSW Film & Television Office. He learnt his filmmaking craft in England and went on to become one of only two, one-armed cameramen in the world. The other was his mentor, the late Mo Amin. He said, “Dome Lab 2010 provides a unique opportunity to learn about the production and exhibition of ‘fulldome immersive cinema’, which is a new way of looking at the world. It is unique because it is accessible and immersive – so it can be enjoyed by a wide section of the community.” Accessible Arts supported Robert’s successful application for a Regional Arts NSW Quick Response Grant to cover costs to attend the workshop.

NTV BandWagon tour to Awakenings disability arts festival

Lismore based community organisation R.E.D. Inc in partnership with RealArtWorks and members of the NTV BandWagon project, presented a number of performances at this year's Awakenings Arts Festival in Horsham, Victoria. With funding from Arts NSW, 16 people with and without disability, made the journey from the far north coast of NSW to regional Victoria to be part of the disability arts festival. NTV Bandwagon is a group of professional and emerging musicians, who participate in a program of mentoring, workshops and live performances.  “This is an excellent professional development opportunity for the young performers in NTV BandWagon to show off their talents in music and multimedia. They also had the opportunity to take part in workshops, teaching, songwriting, musicanship and live video mixing at the festival," said Ruth Tsitimbinis from RealArtsWorks. The Awakenings Festival is presented by Wimmera Uniting Care. Back to Back Theatre, Rudely Interrupted and Brisbane based blues and jazz performer Jeff Usher, have all contributed to the festival program this year. Read more: NTV BandWagon tour to Awakenings disability arts festival.

Creative Inclusive

Creative partnerships attract small grants for Don’t DISmyABILITY

Accessible Arts’ small arts grant recipients for the Don’t DISmyABILITY campaign are part of a range of arts projects that will take place throughout November and December to celebrate International Day of People with disability. The six successful grant recipients for 2010 are developing projects that model strong creative partnerships or professional collaborations. The Looking Out Looking In project is facilitated by Workability Personnel and engages participants in the conceptual development and curation of a photographic exhibition providing a flexible approach to training in photography. “Looking Out Looking In demonstrates partnerships with the local community, artistic integrity through collaborating with industry professionals and the inclusion of participants in the planning and design of the photographic workshops and exhibition. This quality of participation offers professional development for participants in a number of ways,” said Sarah-Vyne Vassallo, Arts Development Officer at Accessible Arts. All six project profiles are now online.

Get in touch with Sculpture by the Sea Bondi 2010

This year Sculpture by the Sea, one of Sydney's favourite annual outdoor events, will run a series of tactile tours for people with low vision and people with intellectual disabilities. Guided tours, through the exhibition site of Mark's Park, will encourage people to interact and engage with a series of artworks that are located in accessible areas. A successful pilot program last year introduced audiences to new ways of engaging with the artworks, and increased access to the event for people with low vision. Both Accessible Arts and Sculpture by the Sea are committed to building on that experience and have expanded the reach of the program. This year, in addition to audio described tactile tours, Sculpture by the Sea will also present tactile tours in Easy English for people with intellectual disabilities. Sophie Clausen, Accessible Arts’ Access Coordinator, welcomes the increased access and said “Easy English tactile tours will enable people with intellectual disabilities greater participation at the exhibition through an interactive experience.” Read more: Get in touch with Sculpture by the Sea Bondi 2010.

Sydney Symphony Orchestra ensemble and King Andrew and
the Buffaloes, 2009.

Powerhouse Museum celebrates classical and contemporary music making

Members of Sydney Symphony Orchestra ensemble will perform alongside community band King Andrew and the Buffaloes at a musical variety concert presented at the Powerhouse Museum in November. The event will be part of the Don't DISmyABILITY campaign and a chance for the Powerhouse Museum to invite community organisations to come together for an end of year celebration.  King Andrew and the Buffaloes from Centracare Waitara will present their second only public performance. For the last four years this group have participated in weekly music sessions at the Powerhouse Museum's Thinkspace labs where they work on original songs and experiment with a range of musical devices including most recently the Apple Ipad. Finn O'Keefe who runs the weekly sessions said "We are always on the look out for new technologies with which to engage participants in music making. The Ipad is an accessible device and a flexible interface, and with so many apps now available, from drum kits to heavy metal guitar solos, we have a lot of fun exploring contemporary music technology." Read more: Powerhouse Museum Musical Variety Concert.

Audience Reference Group call out for members

Accessible Arts is calling on people with disability who are also patrons of the arts to join a reference group to discuss and propose strategic action for ongoing and emerging access issues. Members of the Audience Reference Group participate as individuals yet as a professional group and have the independence to act on their own behalf and advocate for improved access. Where appropriate, the Audience Reference Group will endorse Accessible Arts media releases that lobby for change directed by the group and will guide Accessible Arts audience development projects. The group will meet three times a year, including one planning meeting, held at Accessible Arts training room and, where possible, will be offered tickets to attend events. Interested parties should write a brief about their background and experiences in both arts and disability sector and what they would hope to achieve with the Audience Reference Group. Read more: Audience Reference Group call out for members.

Events and Opportunities