news « "There's something happening across Western Sydney"

Hawkesbury Regional Gallery: Performance in the Gallery

Robert doing warm up exercises at Performance in the Gallery

Hawkesbury Regional Gallery in partnership with Accessible Arts present Performance in the Gallery, a series of 10 exciting workshops in movement and performance for people with mild to moderate intellectual and physical disabilities. Over the 10 weeks, we cover a range of skills including decision-making, range of movement, coordination, voice and sound making, gesture and action, movement and stillness, shape making and performance making with both movement and text.

Enrolments essential as spaces are limited.

When: Tuesdays 10am- 12noon, 20 July 20 – 21 September 2010

Where: Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, Deerubbin Centre (1st floor), 300 George Street, Windsor

Who: People with disability

Cost: $100/person for 10 weeks

Contact: Katy Green 0416 482 151 or gallery1@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

Website: Hawkesbury Regional Gallery

Access: Accessible venue & toilets. Accessible parking available.

Sunrise appearance

by Ana N

Anyway earlier this week that was on Wednesday afternoon, right?
That was the moment that I had this phone call from my friend
and manager for the First Flight Crew, Alison Richardson
and one of them wanted me to appear on Sunrise today
Which was a nice offer from these guys which was so damn sweet
So that’s why I took this chance and actually had appeared on TV in the morning.
And that was my time to shine

Appearing on a national TV for the first time was one of the best things ever.
This is something that I have achieved today
and it had always be something that I wanted to do in my life
Is to be recognised for what I do as an artist
And for the public to know me for who I am as an artist but also as an person as well too
That can give you an idea on what it is on about.
And that’s the main thing that I wanted today.
That’s what I am aiming for….

That’s the main elements for the day….
Is to show what I have got to offer to the nation
And is to get the public to know who I am
Yes, there’s a million watching me on your TV screens in the morning
ALL AROUND THE NATION !!! YES !!!
And that’s something that you should be excited of….

Despite with me having to wake up at 4:30am, spend an hour on a train to
and from the city as I live far away, the lack of sleep and not doing like what others
were doing was parties all night long and I have to sacrifice to do this of course…
To at least appear on TV and show what I got to offer which is the main thing
that I have to do while on air, it’s been well worth it and I’m enjoying my moment on TV

Art centres exchange skills to increase access for people with disability

Jennifer Teo and Miguel Olmo on an audio-described tour at the S-X Day, Blacktown Arts Centre

Accessible Arts held a skills exchange day for Western Sydney arts centres on 27 May 2010, in response to the need to develop audiences that include people with disability at museums and galleries.

Major arts venues from across metropolitan Sydney came together for the exchange at Blacktown Arts Centre, to focus on education and information about the development and delivery of tactile and audio-described tours.

“The S-X Day was devised partially in response to recommendations from the National Arts and Disability Strategy, to increase quality arts and cultural experiences in museums and galleries for people with disability,” said Jennifer Teo, Strategic Initiatives Western Sydney, Accessible Arts. “It provided an opportunity for curators, producers, education and public programs staff to discuss issues and exchange ideas on tactile and audio-described tours within various arts contexts.”

Guest speaker Coral Arnold spoke about her experience of attending various tactile tours and audio-described events as a person with low vision. As a regular gallery visitor and cinema enthusiast, Coral expressed the value of accessing mainstream cultural events. “The majority of us want to see what you’re seeing or what your mother or your father is seeing,” she explained.

Other presentations included Art Gallery of NSW, MCA, and Penrith Regional Gallery & the Lewers Bequest. An audio described tour of the Prospect Hill exhibition by Kenzee Patterson at Blacktown Arts Centre was conducted by Naomi McCarthy, Manager Education and Public Programs, Penrith Regional Gallery & the Lewers Bequest. The audience was blindfolded during the tour to simulate the experience of someone who is blind or has low vision.

Naomi McCarthy’s demonstration of how to approach audio description and incorporating tactile experiences will enhance our own programs,” says Lysele Assarapin, Education and Volunteers Coordinator, Powerhouse Discovery Centre. “It was also very valuable to hear Coral Arnold present her personal experience offering direct understanding of access for people who are blind or have low vision.”

The Art Gallery of NSW and MCA provided draft guidelines to share with the S-X group to assist with the development of resources to support public programs that include audio description and tactile experiences.

Establishing a professional network of arts organisations to develop standards and support the ongoing advancement of programs that include people with disability at galleries and museums is currently being supported by Accessible Arts.

Australia Council for the Arts: Arts Funding Forums 2010

The Australia Council for the Arts invites you to discover how the national funding agency can support you or your organisation.

The Australia Council is running a series of funding forums across Australia in 2010. The events will give you information on our arts funding programs and how to increase the chances of having a successful application.

The forums will be most useful for first-time applicants.

The program will include:

about the Australia Council (vision, priorities, project examples)
types of grants
examples of successful projects
tips for a successful application
Q&A

The forums are free and aimed at all current and aspiring artists and arts organisations interested to learn about what the Australia Council offers. The events are staged in partnership with the state arts agencies, who will provide information about their own funding opportunities.

Sydney CBD Forum

When: Monday 21 June, 3-5pm

Where: Bay 19, Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh

Access: Accessible venue and amenities. Accessible parking.

Parramatta Forum

When: Tuesday 22 June, 3-5pm

Where: Rafferty’s Theatre, Riverside Theatres, Corner Church and Market Streets, Parramatta

Access: Accessible venue and amenities. Limited paid parking is available at the venue

Register to attend: RSVP for forums

Contact: If you have any questions, please call the Australia Council for the Arts on tel: 02 9215 9121.

First Flight Crew at HIP-HOP PROJECTIONS 5

The First Flight Crew have been invited to perform at Hip Hop Projections 5 – Words from the West, as part of the Sydney Writers Festival. They will perform alongside some of Australia’s most established and well known hip hop artists and will of course be supported by their mentor/ tutor Aussie hip hop legend, Morganics.

An event not to be missed. Featuring urban artists from Sydney’s West, alongside Australia’s leading hip hop, urban movement and screen producers including Def Wish Cast, Torcha, Brothablack, Ozibatla, TrueVibe Nation, 9 Lives, Urban Prophetz, First Flight Crew & Morganics, Reef Thunder and MC Trey.

HIP-HOP PROJECTIONS 5 is presented by Information and Cultural Exchange in association with Sydney Writers’ Festival.

RSVP essential by 13 May 2010

Where: Riverside Theatres, Cnr Church & Market Streets, Parramatta NSW

When: Sunday 16 May 2010, 6:00 – 9:00pm

Who: All-ages event

Cost: Free

Contact: For further information or to RSVP please contact us on 9897 5744 or urbanmusic@ice.org.au

Website: Riverside Theatres www.riversideparramatta.com.au

Access: Accessible venue and amenities. Limited paid parking is available at the venue for patrons with a current disability parking permit.

Movement and performance workshops with Katy Green at Hawkesbury Regional Gallery

In the mixed bag that was Term One of the Performance Workshops at Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, participants developed skills in breathing, sound making, decision making and range of movement. The major focus this term was devising movement and performing.

Almost every week the participants broke into smaller groups to devise a short movement sequence based on particular gestures, actions, songs or words. The smaller groups then taught the rest of the class and performed for everyone.

The group learnt basic principles of performing including how to enter and exit the performing space and how to clearly start and finish a performance. There was also loads of time time for laughs with the regular fun games and jokes.

For more information about the performance workshops for people with a disability contact Hawkesbury Regional Gallery.

First Flight Crew at Platform 3

Come support emerging hip hop group the First Flight Crew at Sydney’s largest hip hop festival, PLATFORM 3!

The crew will be showing off their latest routine featuring all original music that they have created with Aussie B-Boy Morganics.

First Flight Crew performance at Platform 3:

When: Saturday 20 March 2010

Where: CarriageWorks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh (closest station is Redfern) NSW

Time: 2pm

Cost: FREE

Access: Accessible venue and amenities. Accessible parking. Venue is fully accessible. How to get to CarriageWorks.

Merchandise: Buy yourself a FFC t-shirt. All proceeds go towards the development of the group.

Contact: For more info on First Flight Crew contact Alison Richardson on 02 9251 6499 ext 112 or arichardson@aarts.net.au

First Flight Crew breaking into the scene

Marky Mark in a First Flight Crew T-Shirt

First Flight Crew (FFC) will make their first appearance for 2010 at Platform 3, Sydney’s largest hip hop festival. Platform 3 is an annual showcase event that highlights some of Australia’s best DJs, MCs, beat boxers, breakers and graffiti artists all taking place at CarriageWorks contemporary arts centre, Eveleigh.

The eight piece hip hop crew from all over Sydney is managed by Accessible Arts’ Creative Programs Coordinator, Alison Richardson and was formed in 2009 as a result of a series of workshops with Victorian based music organisation Club Wild, further development with Powerhouse Youth Theatre and all under the guidance of hip hop artist, Morganics.

Representing people with disability, the crew perform original material at gigs, fundraisers and public events. They are currently developing their live routine with Morganics for their performance at Platform 3 on Saturday March 20th, 2010.

“Performing at Platform 3 will raise the profile of the First Flight Crew directly within the hip hop community. It is about reaching new audiences outside of the disability sector so they can all experience the talent, spunk and attitude of the First Flighters” says Alison Richardson, Creative Programs Coordinator at Accessible Arts.

FFC will also be performing at Accessible Arts’ national Arts Activated Conference on Friday 26 March 2010 at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.

To raise their profile and to raise money to support the development of the crew the FFC have designed and printed a limited number of T-shirts that are available for purchase for $20. To order a FFC T-shirt or to find out more about booking the crew to perform contact Alison Richardson, Creative Programs Coordinator tel: 9251 6499 extension 112 or arichardson@aarts.net.au

What's been happening in Western Sydney?

Update: November 2009 – February 2010

There has been much noise and activity across the Western Sydney region and we want to make sure everyone knows what’s been going on and what’s on offer. We would like to congratulate all arts centres that have taken on board a more inclusive approach to programming. Hopefully by the end of this year Western Sydney will be bursting at the seams with opportunities for everyone of all abilities everywhere. Read on to see what all the major arts centres, councils and disability services have been up to over the last few months.

Blacktown Arts Centre

Louis Black, artist from the Sargent Centre Mural project

Sargent’s Centre Mural

Blacktown Arts Centre (BAC) employed artists David Capra & Tia McIntyre to run workshops for people with a disability to create a mural for the front of the Sargent’s Centre. This centre was officially opened on International Day for People with a Disability and houses four disability services from the Blacktown area: Peckys, Tuesday Night Club, Sunshine Homes and Independent Living for People with a Disability. The groups also created some fabulous artwork for inside the building as well. We look forward to seeing how this partnership between the BAC and the Sargent’s Centre will continue in 2010.

WAPD End of Year Concert

Contact: Miguel Olmo, Audience Development & Community Engagement Officer, tel: 02 9839 6247 or miguel.olmo@blacktown.nsw.gov.au

Parramatta Riverside Theatre

WAPD End of Year Concert at Riverside Theatres

Parramatta Riverside Theatre’s popular Workshops in the Arts for People with a Disability (WAPD) program offers weekly workshops in movement, music, dance and drama for people with disabilities. Towards the end of the fourth term, participants from all classes assemble together to perform an End of Year Concert on the main stage at Parramatta’s Riverside Theatre. The End of Year Concert is an opportunity for the WAPD group to showcase some of their work created in the classes they attended that year. The theme for 2009 concert was ‘Aussie, Aussie Aussie.’ The audience followed tutors Adam Kennedy & Ona Nurkkala as they went on an all singing, all dancing tour through Australia where they saw bush dances, Aussie rules football players, Bondi Lifesavers, Eagle Rockers and the Kelly Gang! There was also a massive Karaoke session where everyone got to belt out their favourite song by an Aussie artist- we had John Farnham, The Wiggles, Kevin Bloody Wilson, Delta, Kylie and loads more.

Farewell… We would also like to say farewell to Adam who committed himself for four years to the WAPD program and I’m sure his enthusiasm, energy and talent will be missed by all the participants.

Travel Starting at the Bus Stop

For IDPWD Riverside hosted Sunnyfield Frenchs Forest Day Options Program’s Drama Groups encore performance of their play Travel Starting at the Bus Stop, directed by Annette Sudan. The play was originally performed as part of the Manly Arts Festival, it was such a huge success that Sunnyfield felt they needed to share the performance with the other Sunnyfield Day Option Program and friends.

Contact: Camilla Rountree, Producer, tel: 02 8839 3398 or rountree@ozemail.com.au

Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre

Pinchpot with Natalie Valiente

Demonstrate your creativity and enjoy the fun of art making in our Pinchpot workshops. You will learn about clay and the skills you need to model small objects from bowls and plates to decorative novelties. Your creative choice of subject is encouraged.

Who: People of all ages who have a disability

Where: Clayhouse at Casula Powerhouse, 1 Casula Road, Casula NSW

When: First Friday of every month including 5 Feb, 5 March, 7 May, 4 June, 2 July, 6 Aug, 3 Sept, 1 Oct, 5 Nov and 3 Dec from (excluding Easter Friday in April)

Time: 10:00am – 12 noon or 1:00 – 3:00pm

Cost: $5 per session

Contact: Bookings tel: 02 9824 1121 or reception@casulapowerhouse.com

Fairfield Museum & Gallery

Chris Dyke from the First Flight Crew breakdancing at Fairfield Museum & Gallery, International Day of People with Disability 2009. Photography by Anita Winter.

International Day of People with a Disability

Fairfield City Council and Fairfield Museum & Gallery organised an event to celebrate International Day of People with Disability. The day began with a welcome to country and the opening of the Visual Abilities exhibition, a collection of works created during the weekly art classes run by Fairfield Museum & Gallery for people with a disability. The art classes are free and led by professional local artist Brenda Eggleton.

Entertainment included the First Flight Crew who performed their latest hip hop tracks with hip hop artist Morganics, as well as a performance by local singer/songwriter Ana Nguyen who performed her song Economy Sick.

Morganics then really got the place rocking with his solo performance and also by getting members of the audience to join him on stage for some beat boxing. By the end of the show everyone in the audience was dancing and there was a great party vibe in the air. After lunch everyone enjoyed lunch joining in the high energy hip hop workshop and trying their hand at chalk art.

Contact: Heidi Axelsen, Fairfield City Council, Community Project Officer, Cultural Development, tel: 02 9725 0757 or haxelsen@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

Disability Art Workshops with Brenda Eggleton

Fairfield Museum & Gallery offer weekly art workshops for people with disability. Bookings essential on tel: 02 9609 3993.

Who: People of all ages who have a disability

Where: Cnr. Oxford Street and The Horsley Drive, Smithfield NSW

When: Every Friday,

Time: 2:00-4:00pm.

Cost: Free

Contact: Cedric Boudjema, Museum and Gallery Director, tel: 02 9757 4357 or cboudjema@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

Powerhouse Youth Theatre

interACT – A resource for working in integrated performance settings

Claudia Chidiac, Artistic Director of Powerhouse Youth Theatre, officially launched the interACT Resource Kit, a new online resource for working in integrated performance settings at the IDPWD celebrations at Fairfield Museum & Gallery. The incredible new resource includes workshop plans and case studies from organisations and disability services across regional and metropolitan New South Wales with experience of working in an integrated performance setting. The kit was created to raise awareness of the work going on in the field of integrated performance and to help those who may want to work in the field with tools and techniques to get started. The resource kit was produced by Powerhouse Youth Theatre in partnership with Accessible Arts. http://interactresource.com.au

inter/ACT Integrated School Holiday Workshops

Throughout the second half of 2009 Accessible Arts and Powerhouse Youth Theatre established the interACT schools program. The program aims to integrate young people with a disability into mainstream school holiday performance programs within arts centres across Western Sydney. As a relationship building exercise interACT’s Workshop Coordinator, Matt Stewart coordinated a series of free in school drama workshops which were led by Accessible Arts’ Western Sydney Creative Programs Coordinator, Alison Richardson. Alison also mentored, Digby Webster in how to run the workshops and he assisted her in four of the five participating high schools across South West Sydney.

inter/ACT Street Dance Workshop

As part of inter/ACT a street dance workshop is planned for the 20-22nd of January at PYT for 15-18 year old people with and without a disability. For more details contact Matt Stewart on tel: 02 9724 6077 or matt@pyt.com.au

I Love You by Janet Diane

I Love You by Janet Diane (Creative Development)

I Love You by Janet Diane was one of eleven projects that received the Accessible Arts Small Grants funding as a part of Don’t DIS My ABILITY. Janet was also a member of the PYT’s Mixed Abilities Ensemble and performer in PYT’s major site-specific production, Hard Daze and also works one day in the PYT office.

In 2008 Janet began to write her first performance based on her own real life experiences as a young woman who lives with acquired a disability at 15 years of age. Janet’s performance in this 25-minute piece of moving and poignant theatre was brilliant & everyone is eagerly anticipating it’s major production which, pending funding, will hopefully be not too far into the future.

Beyond Vision

Powerhouse Youth Theatre and Fairfield City Council will be working with a new theatre group that comprises of actors with vision impairments. They will meet fortnightly to learn new skills in performance and create new theatre work. We look forward to hearing more about what this exciting new theatre ensemble gets up to.

PYT 2010 Workshops

Weekly workshops in performance for people with a disability will commence in March. For more information contact the Artistic Director.

Contact: Artistic Director, tel: 02 9724 6077 or info@pyt.com.au

Farewell… We would also to like to farewell PYT’s Artistic Director, Claudia Chidiac and General Manager, Eleanor Winkler. We would like to acknowledge all their hard work and commitment to inclusive arts practice across Western Sydney. They have committed themselves and the organisation fully into including people with a disability in all aspects of the company and have forged strong links with disability services and between young performers and artists within the company. We look forward to continuing our relationship with PYT and the new team from February 2010.

Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre - Q Theatre

The Dream Project

The Q Theatre is currently working on a submission to receive funding for a production based on the stories, hopes and dreams of people perceived to have a disability. The project has been loosely titled The Dream Project. If successful with receiving funding the production will take place in as part of the Q Theatre’s main subscription season in 2011. Accessible Arts’ Alison Richardson was employed by the Q Theatre to undertake a research and community consultation phase, which entailed visiting disability services across Penrith to discuss ideas for the show and experience a free drama workshop. An ‘Acting n Arvo Tea’ workshop was also held which brought together over 20 people who identified as having a disability from all over Sydney to do participate in a drama workshop and also discuss ideas for the show.

Shadow Puppetry at The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre

Puppetry Workshops

The Q Theatre ran a year of successful workshops in Shadow Puppetry and 3D rod puppetry. The final term saw participants making the bodies for rod puppets and staging A Christmas Carol for Sizzle at Penrith Regional Gallery as part of IDPWD celebrations. The Q Theatre also invited the group to perform at the end of term performance night for Studio Q (the Q Theatre youth and young adults acting training program). The group were a huge hit on the evening getting a 300 strong crowd singing along with them. This integration by the Q Theatre is to be applauded and the staff from the disability services acknowledged for volunteering their time on the evening so that this opportunity was made possible for the people in their care.

AFFORD end of year showcase

Many of the participants of the puppetry workshop have come from the disability service Australian Foundation for Disability (AFFORD). Managers from AFFORD approached the Q Theatre about the possibility of staging their end of year concert within their theatre. This was welcomed by the Q Theatre with open arms and the theatre was given free of charge to the group. Each AFFORD service had devised a short song and/dance with their group which was performed on the stage. This gave each group the valuable experience of performing in a real theatre. We look forward to seeing how this partnership continues in 2010.

Q Theatre 2010 Workshops

Q Theatre is once again running their popular Shadow Puppetry workshop and this year are also including an Inclusive Drama workshop. Both workshops take place on Fridays from 10:00am – 1:00pm beginning 12 February 2010 and will incur a small fee. For bookings and enquiries contact Katrina Douglas, Q Theatre Producer.

Contact: Katrina Douglas, Q Theatre Producer, tel: 02 4723 7610 or kdouglas@jspac.com.au

Penrith Regional Gallery

Sizzle – an inclusive arts event

The Penrith Regional Gallery (PRG) & The Lewers Bequest hosted the inaugural Sizzle Festival on 2 December 2009 in celebration of International Day for People with Disability. Sizzle was an inclusive, fun, celebratory event that showcased art works made by people with a disability and also short performances from local disability services and the Q Theatre, these ranged from puppetry to Elvis impersonations. The day was well attended and everyone enjoyed being able to dance at the disco, hang out in the beautiful garden area, view the art exhibition and get involved in the performances.

As part of Sizzle, PRG also offered a mentorship to an emerging artist with disability which allowed the chance for one artist to receive professional development in the form of three one hour sessions with practicing contemporary artist Catherine O’Donnell. There was also a free morning workshop for carers of people with a disability giving creative ideas for working with the people they care for.

PRG also continues its Inclusive Education Program through tailored and interactive guided tours, providing access to studio spaces for art making workshops and access to art making workshops.

Contact: Naomi McCarthy, Acting Manager/ Education and Public Programs, tel: 02 4735 1100 or nmccarthy@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au

Hawkesbury Regional Gallery

Performance in the Gallery with Katy Green, Open Program at the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery

Open Program

AFFORD and Junction Works joined together for 9 weeks of Performance in the Gallery. The group all met once a week at the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery to perform improvisations, theatre exercises and games. The group focused this term on movement and stillness, coordination and range of movement, shape making and vocal skills. This workshops are part of Accessible Arts on going Open Program that aims to provide performing arts opportunities to people with a disability within major arts centres across Western Sydney.

Contact: Katy Green, Workshop Coordinator & Tutor, tel: 0416 482 151 or gallery1@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

Contact: Kathleen von Witt, Hawkesbury Gallery & Museum Director, tel: 02 4560 4442 or kathleen.vonwitt@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

What else has been happening??

There were also a lot of arts based activities happening across the Western Sydney region outside of the major arts centres particularly around International Day of People with a Disability (IDPWD). We’d like to congratulate those council areas that included the arts in their IDPWD celebrations through their workshops, exhibitions and performances.

Blue Mountains

Katoomba Fine Arts Gallery and Disability Enterprises presented an exhibition called Sensorial.
Blue Mountains City Council presented the Able Arts Exhibition.

Baulkham Hills

The Hills Shire Council presented their annual Access2Arts Exhibition.
Tours, activities, workshops continually are held at Powerhouse Discovery Centre at Castle Hill.

Bankstown

Bankstown City Council presented workshops in laughter, photography and bongo drumming.

Blacktown

Blacktown City Council presented performances at Dawson St. Mall, Mount Druitt and also the opening and unveiling of the mural at the new Sargent’s Centre.

Holroyd

Art Competition & Exhibition. For the second year running Council held an art competition for artists with a disability and six major prizes were awarded to the Holroyd artists who identify as having a disability. The Awards night was held on Thursday, 3 December at the Holroyd Centre, Merrylands. The artworks will be on display in the Council foyer at 16 Memorial Avenue, Merrylands between 4 Jan -1 Feb 2010.

Penrith

A regional arts and disability forum was held at the Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest on 3 December 2009. Organised by David Cretney from the Sylvanvale Foundation with the support of Penrith City Council. The forum posed the question: How do we create inclusive and accessible practice for people with disabilities? Read more…
Penrith Disabilities Resource Centre (PDRC) also conducted fro IDPWD a painting competition for people of all ages with varying types and levels of disability.

Gear up for PLUGGED IN! Connecting communities

Accessible Arts Western Sydney presents Plugged In! an exciting cross regional event that will take place in all the Arts Centres across Western Sydney right through the month of October. Their doors will be flung open to the disability community for everyone to experience free or subsidised performances, exhibitions, workshops, talks, gallery tours….. Keep your eye out for maps and event info later in the year!

Further information on Plugged In!
Contact: Jennifer Teo tel: 02 9251 6499 (ext 111) or jteo@aarts.net.au or Alison Richardson tel: 02 9251 6499 (ext 112) or arichardson@aarts.net.au

Arts Activated National Conference 2010
Arts – Access – Excellence

Accessible Arts presents the Arts Activated National Conference 2010, an opportunity for those passionate about the arts and disability sectors to come together to explore, debate, discuss and connect ideas and practice. The conference will also celebrate the accomplishments of, and provide showcase opportunities for, artists with disability. Early Bird rate is on offer until January 31st, 2010. For all conference details please visit www.aarts.net.au/arts-activated-conference-2010

Penrith Arts & Disability Forum

David Cretney, Sylvanvale Foundation, with local artist Sandra McGregor

On 3 December 2009 a regional Arts and Disability Forum was held at the Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest, organised by David Cretney from the Sylvanvale Foundation with the support of Penrith City Council and facilitated by Kate Baker from the Australia Council for the Arts. The forum was well attended by local artists with disability, people working in the arts, disability and local government sector. The forum posed the question: How do we create inclusive and accessible practice for people with disabilities?

We heard from local artist Sandra McGregor about what art means to her and the pleasure it brings to her life. There were informative presentations by experienced practitioners such as Phil Heuzenroeder (Club Wild, VIC), Angela Pasqua (Camden Creative Studios), Julie Humphreys (Katoomba Dance Theatre), Katrina Douglas (Q Theatre) and Gaye Flemming (Sunnyfield Independence), who each talked about their approach to inclusive and accessible arts practice. All presenters highlighted various key aspects of working in the arts with people with disability. Some of the key points were:

Create accessible and inclusive arts opportunities and experiences
Access to training, education and professional development for people with disability
Develop relationships and networks across all sectors
Build community partnerships
Don’t be scared to try, it’s all a learning process
Be proactive and a leader in your community

Forum attendees were able to network, brainstorm and workshop ideas through small group activities and develop practical strategies to address the forum theme.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

(2BLU FM 89.1). Download transcript.

Penrith City Council also celebrated International Day of People With Disability with the launch of the Penrith Inclusion Plan: People with Disability 2009 – 2013 and the unveiling of a sculpture created by Sunnyfield artists during the Majors Morning Tea.

Accessible Arts will work with the Sylvanvale Foundation and Penrith City Council to establish a regional Arts & Disability Action Group. If you are interested in getting involved and would like to find out more, contact Jennifer Teo, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, on 02 9251 6499 or jteo@aarts.net.au.