Accessible Arts Resources
Audio Description for Visual Arts
Information has been compiled to assist arts centres to understand the access needs of people with disability in relation to audio description. An initiative of the Accessible Arts Western Sydney project, this document has been compiled by Accessible Arts with contributions from the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Gallery of NSW.
Audio Description for Visual Arts (Word, 216KB)
Exchange It workshop exercises
Practical exercises for people working in the performing arts from the Exchange It professional development workshop, as part of Plugged In, an initiative of the Accessible Arts Western Sydney project.
Exchange It – workshop exercises (Word, 724KB)
interACT Resource Kit
A resource for working in integrated performance settings
A comprehensive online resource kit to raise awareness about integrated performance. The interACT Resource Kit includes workshop plans and case studies from organisations and disability services across regional and metropolitan New South Wales, outlining the practice of working in an integrated performance setting. interACT is available to read online, or for free download as a PDF, Word document or Large Print Word document. It will assist those who want to work in the field of integrated performance with tools and techniques that have been tried and tested. Developed by Powerhouse Youth Theatre in partnership with the Accessible Arts Western Sydney project.
Western Sydney Scoping Study
Accessible Arts undertook a scoping study of disability services in Western Sydney to determine their knowledge and use of arts centres in the region. The scoping study involved consulting with the disability sector through conducting a survey and compiling a database of disability service contacts in Western Sydney.
Scoping Study Report (PDF, 760KB)
Scoping Study Report (Word, 704KB)
Accessing the Arts Resources
A collection of practical checklists and information sheets for arts and cultural organisations to assist in improving access and developing audiences.
Includes information on Disability Awareness, Disability Media Info, Exhibition Design, Marketing to Disability, Print & Publication,Ticketing & Seating and Venue Access Audit. Available as downloadable PDF files. (Due to be updated in 2011)
Other Resources
Activate
An online guide to managing community-based arts projects.
Created by Fairfield City Council, Activate is an online guide for artists, community workers and organisations working on creative projects. It explains the steps involved in organising a community-based arts project. It provides a one-stop shop that takes you from your project idea, to implementation and evaluation. The guide covers areas such as public liability, copyright, grant submissions, marketing and promotion. It also includes useful case studies, sample forms and agreements.
Community Participation: Including people with disabilities in your performing group
A resource to support the inclusion of people with disabilities in performing groups.
The guide provides information and strategies to assist community groups and organisations to include people with disabilities in performing arts activities. The guide also addresses some of the issues that may arise in bringing out meaningful participation in performance-based arts activities for people with disabilities.
Cultural Participation by Persons with a Disability and Older Persons (2003)
People with a disability and older people comprise a significant proportion of the Australian population. This report focuses on the cultural participation of these two groups. It uses data collected in the 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers.
Disability Awareness Kit
A Training Resource for Public Library Customer Service Staff
The broad aims of this website are to promote an understanding of issues surrounding disability; to encourage service providers to focus on the individual, not the disability; to develop an understanding of appropriate and effective methods of interaction with people with disabilities; to foster an understanding of the ways in which the information needs of people with disabilities can be met; and to develop an awareness of issues relating to physical access to library materials.
Dot To Dot
Arts and Disability in Practice
In 2005, Restless Dance ran a series of workshops called Dot To Dot. These workshops aimed to broaden skills and awareness around working with young people with a disability for youth, community cultural development and dance practictioners. The topics, available as downloads, cover a range of organisational and participatory arts practice in the following areas: Peak Bodies in South Australia, Companies working in arts and disability in SA, Arts and Disability Practice, Disability Dance Resource List.
Mental Illness and Suicide: A Mindframe Resource for Stage and Screen
The website provides practical advice and information for people involved in the development of Australian film, television and theatre. It is designed to help inform truthful and authentic portrayals of mental illness and suicide. This site is an accompaniment to the resource booklet Mental Illness and Suicide: A Mindframe Resource for Stage and Screen, which provides information about audience impact and some key issues to consider when developing storylines that include either mental illness or suicide, as well as providing some contextual information about these issues.
Toolkit for Arts Advocates
This is a guide to more effective advocacy and lobbying for anyone working with young people in the arts. It’s about communicating the value of your work; fostering stronger community support, and influencing funding decisions and government policy.
