About « There's something happening across Western Sydney

Accessible Arts is the peak arts and disability organisation across New South Wales

Our vision is a society in which people with disabilities can contribute to and fully experience the arts and cultural life.

Accessible Arts is working across the Western Sydney region, raising awareness and creating opportunities in the arts for people with disability. Our work seeks to raise the profile of arts & disability through various model projects, creative programs and strategic initiatives, and through the provision of information, advice and training, improving access to the arts for people with disability.

Accessible Arts is working closely with arts centres and local councils across Western Sydney on a regional approach towards inclusive and accessible programs and practices for people with disability. The Western Sydney initiative fosters strong partnerships between the arts and disability sectors, local councils and community to ensure sustainability.

The Western Sydney project covers 11 local councils including Auburn, Bankstown, Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Holroyd, Liverpool, Parramatta and Penrith.

Western Sydney Team

Alison Richardson – Creative Programs Co-ordinator
Tel: (02) 9251 6499 (ext. 112)
Email: arichardson@aarts.net.au

Key areas: creative programs and professional development opportunities for people with a disability in all artistic disciplines.

Alison is responsible for coordinating quality arts programs and creative opportunities for people with a disability across Western Sydney.

Alison has worked extensively as a theatre director and tutor for community theatre companies, Powerhouse Youth Theatre, Shopfront Theatre, PACT Theatre and Australian Theatre For Young People. She was the Community Outreach Worker at Powerhouse Youth Theatre where she directed and produced several events for marginalised and disadvantaged youth. She has worked extensively as a drama tutor/director for various disability services and has established sliced bread attraction an organisation committed to creating creative opportunities for people of all abilities. She was the 2007 recipient of the Young Leaders Award for 2007 from the Australia Council for the Arts in acknowledgment for her commitment to community arts.

Jennifer Teo – Strategic Initiatives Co-ordinator
Tel: (02) 9251 6499 (ext. 111)
Email: jteo@aarts.net.au

Key areas: advocacy, policy and strategic initiatives, consultation, forms networks, skills development and dialogue opportunities between arts and disability sectors.

Jennifer is responsible for the strategic development of sustainable programs and increased access to creative opportunities for people with a disability across Western Sydney.

Jennifer is a qualified Occupational Therapist and has worked in the disability sector for over sixteen years. She has worked on community development projects, developing aged care and disability services and resources with indigenous communities throughout Central Australia and Cape York Peninsula. As an artist, director and curator, Jennifer has exhibited and produced numerous electronic and experimental music events in Sydney and Cairns, and is the Sydney co-director of Liquid Architecture, a national sound arts festival. She also works as Web Coordinator for Accessible Arts, developing and maintaining the website and social media sites. Jennifer works as a web consultant, designing and developing websites for Plum Industries and produces an experimental music podcast and radioshow called Eleven Eleven.