On Wednesday 29 April, 20 participants took part in the Disability Awareness & the Arts workshop in Bankstown. The workshop was facilitated by Jane Pollard and Claudia Chambers from Accessible Arts, with guest speakers Roger from the Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association, Community Voices program; Claudia Chidiac, Artistic Director at Powerhouse Youth Theatre and Jennifer Teo, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, Accessible Arts Western Sydney.
The workshop aimed to increase awareness and understanding about ‘disability’ in a social context, including barriers to participation (physical, attitudinal and systemic barriers) for people with disabilities. Practical group activities assisted participants to develop useful strategies when working with the disability sector and in developing inclusive and accessible programs and practices, within an arts context.
The workshop was attended by local artists, arts workers, members of local arts & cultural societies, students, disability and community workers interested in arts programs for people with a disability. The workshop also provided a cross-sector networking opportunity for people working in the arts and disability sectors in South West Sydney.
Bankstown City Council acknolwedges the benefits of inclusive and accessible arts and cultural programs. Vandana Ram, Cultural Development Co-ordinator said, “We have a responsibility to create increased opportunities for this to happen, and also to increase interaction between people with disability and the broader community – to make projects more inclusive. The arts allow different ways for people to communicate with each other – through different mediums.”
“The training organised by Council was for local artists and community workers who wish to work with people with disabilities and a way to increase their awareness in this context. Accessible Arts who facilitated the training are the peak body in NSW to provide advice and support for people interested in these issues. Bankstown Council is interested in supporting the development of arts and cultural projects that involve inclusive practice involving people with disability. We have an annual Arts and Cultural Grants program which encourages projects of this nature.”
The workshop was financially supported by Bankstown City Council and offered free of charge to people living and working in the South West Sydney region.