Accessible Arts / arts + disability NSW

Over the past month, Accessible Arts has strongly supported the call to action developed by the national peak arts and disability organisation, Arts Access Australia, in response to the newly released National Cultural Policy. The effective campaign led to the removal of the word ‘tolerance’ in respect to people with disability. Efforts have now turned to securing the required $24 million to implement the National Arts and Disability Strategy, of which $500,000 has been invested by the Commonwealth since 2011. The funding is to enable the full and equal access to arts and culture as recognised by the Commonwealth in signing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  We hope you enjoy this edition of the newsletter, which again highlights the diversity of our work and the development of the organisations and artists that make up the sector. (Image: Kiruna Stamell and Sue Healy at Catalyst Dance Master Class Series)

Accessible Arts received grants from ANZ Staff Foundation to bring inclusive dance initiatives Dance Symposium 2011 and Catalyst 2012 to life. ANZ Staff Foundation is a charitable trust through which ANZ staff support a range of different charities and causes. ANZ is committed to building a diverse workforce and supporting people with disability. In conversation with Justin Greiner, Head of ANZ Private NSW and David H. Stewart, Business Development Manager NSW & ACT, Accessible Arts found out more about the workings of the ANZ Staff Foundation. “I think we all have a similar view and we want to make a difference,” said Justin. “We look for charities that can make a difference and we are about breaking the cycle, whatever that cycle may be, for example ignorance or non-opportunity. We saw in the Catalyst Dance project an opportunity to break a cycle and the approach is almost ‘coach the coach’. We are going to help people - either the people who are going to run the dance groups or the instructors. We want to be able to embrace this part of the community, which doesn’t have these opportunities. The passion is to make a difference, the passion to break the cycle is consistent across the members.”