Accessible Arts / arts + disability NSW

Taking the Lead

Beyond Technique, CarriageWorks, Feb 2010.

Give the gift that opens doors this Christmas

Accessible Arts is delighted to launch a new secure online donation facility as part of a fundraising campaign to help open doors to the world of culture and arts for people with disability. Why not give the gift of making the arts more accessible this Christmas and contribute to an organisation that has been highly commended by the Australian Human Rights Commission for their work? Or ask friends and family to make a donation for your Christmas gift. Help support Accessible Arts’ vital work in creating new audiences, supporting people with disability who want to become professional artists, training arts workers in disability awareness and developing more opportunities for people with disability to express their creativity. Our secure, user-friendly donation portal accepts all major credit cards.  One off donations or regular payments can also be received by phone or mail. Read more: Accessible Arts news.

First Flight Crew on the campaign

The First Flight Crew, an eight-piece hip hop outfit from Sydney consisting entirely of people who identify as having a disability and managed by Accessible Arts, are the face of this year's Don't DIS myABILITY campaign. The Crew are profiled on the cover of Made You Look, the official Don't DIS my ABILITY publication distributed across the state in over 500 regional news agencies and at 650 locations throughout metropolitan Sydney. The publication is also available on the Don't DIS my ABILITY website. The Minister for Disability Services, Peter Primrose said, “This campaign builds awareness and helps to break down some of the barriers that people with a disability may encounter. It also challenges people’s perceptions about disability.” The First Flight Crew not only break down barriers through their profile, but also through their performance work. Dancing, creating original music, rapping and beat boxing since 2008, FFC have performed at major arts events such as Sydney's largest Hip Hop festival, Platform 3 at CarriageWorks. Meet the faces of the campaign.

Exchange It workshops for arts workers from the disability
sector at the Q Theatre, as part of Plugged In 2010.

Western Sydney growing mecca of arts and disability

Accessible Arts' Western Sydney project is drawing to an end, but the work this project has inspired is by no means over. Since 2007, the Western Sydney project has been working across eleven local council areas, building partnerships within the arts, with disability organisations and with local councils to ensure sustainable programs and practices. In the last two years, major arts centres across the region have worked in partnership with Accessible Arts to deliver a variety of programs and access initiatives. A number of initiatives will continue in the region including the Penrith Disability Arts & Culture Network and Exchange It, workshops for arts workers from the disability sector, at the Q Theatre. Alison Richardson, Creative Programs Coordinator at Accessible Arts will commence a newly created role at Riverside Theatres, Parramatta as the Creative Director ofWorkshops in the Arts for People with a Disability (WAPD) program. Read more: Accessible Arts news.

WAPD, Riverside Theatres, Arts NSW funding recipients.

Funded arts and disability projects increased for 2011

The number of arts and disability programs and projects receiving funding from Arts NSW for 2011, indicates increased artistic merit within the sector as well as growing opportunities for people with disability to participate in the arts in quality ways. Sancha Donald CEO Accessible Arts said, “It is exciting to see progress being made in the quality and range of arts and disability projects receiving funding. These projects offer people with disability opportunities to be involved in a range of art forms - theatre, visual arts and music are well represented. We will continue our relationships with the successful recipients throughout 2011 to support and promote their programs and projects.” The Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, are funding 16 projects throughout NSW in 2011, and two projects will directly engaging people with disability. Read more: Sector News.

S H Ervin Gallery, heritage building with disability access.

Report clarifies legalities surrounding disability access to heritage buildings

A full report and the Executive Summary resulting from Accessible Arts’ Removing the Obstaclesresearch project is now available. Developed with arts organisations in mind, the report explores broad issues regarding the provision and improvement of access for people with disability to heritage listed buildings. Removing the Obstacles began in 2007, when Accessible Arts, in partnership with Arts Access Australia, Arts Law Centre of Australia and UTS Shopfront sought to investigate whether heritage laws limit the capacity of arts organisations to provide physical access for people with disability and if there is a need for law reform. The research involved a content analysis of state, national and international legislation, policy and other related resources regarding disability access and heritage, including the Disability (Access to Premises — Buildings) Standards 2010. A resource pamphlet will be produced in early 2011 to assist arts organisations and services located in heritage buildings learn more about how to provide or improve access for people with disability. Read more: Accessible Arts news.

Creative Inclusive

Regional conservatoriums engaged in access and inclusive projects

Accessible Arts presented Disability Access & Awareness training at the NSW Regional Conservatorium Events Conference held in Bathurst on 23 November 2010. Fifteen of the 17 regional conservatoriums across NSW were represented at the training, an initiative of conference organiser Alex Masso from Wollongong Conservatorium. Delivering the training was a positive outcome of Masso's attendance at the Accessible Music Pathways Forum presented by Accessible Arts in Sydney earlier in the year. As well as the training, participants were asked to suggest solutions to some of the barriers and needs of people with disability, wishing to be involved in music, which had been identified at the Accessible Music Pathways Forum. Participants also spent time considering inclusive strategies, changes and improvements that could be implemented at their respective conservatoriums. Read more: Accessible Arts news.

James Ackhurst, The Werewolf, acrylic and tempera on board.

Unseen Ways: Eight Sydney Artists

The first curated exhibition that explores the work of artists working from Sydney based studios that support artists with disability, is being presented at Macquarie University Art Gallery. The exhibition features eight artists from Roomies Artspace, Studio Artes and Macquarie Hospital Studios. Curated by Hugh Nichols, the exhibition examines each artists’ practice and the relationship to their studio environment within the framework of contemporary art. “Although some of these artists have been practicing for decades, their practices have until recently been little known outside of the specialised studio system in which they work,” said Hugh Nichols. Nichols was an active committee member of Accessible Art’s national survey exhibiton, AART.BOXX 09. It was through this experience that he was introduced to artists from supported studios. For Nichols, the opportunity to meet, interview and write about these artists provided the catalyst and drive to develop Unseen Ways.  Read more: Accessible Arts news.

Sculpture takes a tactile turn

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 reports on the experience. “Sculptures really are one of the most interactive art forms. The tactile experience gave me a sense of whether a piece was made out of stainless steel or cast iron. Bronze featured prominently in the winning piece by Danish artist Keld Moseholm, which showed two fat men in a tug-of-war. A personal highlight was Edward Horne’s sculpture of a large war tank made out of recycled stage lights, saucepans and filing cabinets.” Sculpture by the Sea Education Manager, Olivia Kloosterman said the tours provide an experience of increased social and cultural participation for all of the community. “A greater understanding and enjoyment of a work can be achieved by stimulating all the senses; exploring the texture, scale, movement, sound, smell and even temperature”, she said. Read more: Accessible Arts news.

New group supports the arts within disability services

Ten representatives from disability services across metropolitan Sydney gathered at Accessible Arts on 4 November 2010 to establish a group to support the work of creative program managers and art workers. Attendees included representatives from Disability Services Australia, Mary MacKillop Outreach, Studio Artes, FRANS, Sunnyfield and Inala-Miroma. The aim of the group is to bring together those involved in the development, implementation and evaluation of creative programs and provide an opportunity to discuss common issues, exchange ideas and share information. Issues brought to the table so far have related to improving resources, integrating new technologies and the necessity to define and improve the role of arts programs operating within disability services. Read more: Accessible Arts news.

Tra La La Blip perform at Alchemix Art Space

Electronic music collective offered recording deal

Four members of Lismore based electronic music collective Tra La La Blip toured to Brisbane at the end of November, to perform their original avant pop electronica at a Disembraining Machine event. Performing at the monthly showcase of experimental and improvised music was a first for collective members Leanne Butt and Lydian Johnson. Mat Daymond joined founder Randolf Reimann on a tour to Sydney earlier in the year, to present a Tra La La Blip music-making workshop at the Powerhouse Museum. On 28 November a live improvised performance constructed from field recordings captured in environments around Lismore and Bangalow was performed. Tra La La Blip shared the bill with glitched beats, rhythms and noise-maker, Muttboy. At the end of the night they were approached by Joel Stern of DM and Other Films and asked if they would be interested in recording a limited edition 7 inch at the studio in February 2011. “We all said yes!” explained founder of the collective Randolf Reimann. Read more: Sector news.

Strings Attached, St Lucy’s School at the Ensemble Theatre
2010.

Theatre supports creative development of children with disabilities

St Lucy’s School for children with disabilities presented the performance work Strings Attached at the Ensemble Theatre in Kirribilli in early November 2010 and The Bestiary, an exhibition of art works, continued in the Theatre foyer throughout the month. The Ensemble Theatre is a strong supporter of St Lucy’s, especially its Theatre Project, which brings together children with disabilities and their mainstream peers. Every Tuesday 40 mainly primary aged children are taught to workshop their ideas, take direction and work as a ‘troupe’. The resulting performance, Strings Attached was a collection of workshopped pieces using hand and rod puppets with Swiss inspired Larval masks. Sancha Donald, CEO Accessible Arts attended the performance and said, “St Lucy’s School adopt a number of strategies to create arts events of artistic and cultural merit. These include: engaging children with and without disabilities to work together creatively; employing professional arts workers; and developing mainstream audiences by presenting at arts venues like Ensemble Theatre.” Read more: Accessible Arts news.

Events and Opportunities