 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.
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(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.
 Beat boxing and loops with Morganics On 4 December 2009, Fairfield City Council and Fairfield Museum & Gallery organised an event to celebrate International Day of People with Disability (official date 3 December).
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. The exhibition runs from 1 Dec 09 to 6 Jan 2010.
Claudia Chidiac, Artistic Director of Powerhouse Youth Theatre, officially launched the interACT Resource Kit, a new online resource for working in integrated performance settings.
This 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.
 Amazing dancing duo at Morganics Hip Hop workshop 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.
Entertainment included the First Flight Crew who performed their latest hip hop tracks with Morganics, as well as a performance by local singer/songwriter Ana Nguyen who performed her song Economy Sick.
Morganics really got the place rocking, asking members from the audience to join him on stage for some beat boxing. Everyone had a turn to add their sound, which he looped and layered together to make a hip hop track. By the end of the show everyone in the audience was dancing and there was a great party vibe in the air.
Lunch in the museum court yard was a real treat. After lunch there were workshops in Hip Hop and Chalk Art for everyone to enjoy. Congratulations to Fairfield City Council for such a fantastic day.
 Inclusive creative program know-how.
Accessible Arts presents an arts & disability forum in Western Sydney. Come hear a morning of dynamic presentations and engage in a lively panel discussion with key members from the Western Sydney arts, disability & local council sectors. A fantastic cross-sector learning experience, the forum will be of interest to artists, arts workers, disability service providers, arts organisations, and local councils interested in accessible and inclusive arts programs and practices.
Speakers include Louise McCormack (The Spastic Centre), Kate Baker (Australia Council for the Arts), Jenny Bisset (Manager of Arts & Cultural Development, Blacktown City Council), Naomi McCarthy (Penrith Regional Gallery), Claudia Chidiac (Powerhouse Youth Theatre), and Steve Lee (Bankstown Day Options). Guest facilitator Cheryle Yin-Lo (Cultural Connexions).
WHERE: Raffterty’s Theatre, Parramatta Riverside Theatre,
Corner Church & Market Streets, Parramatta.
WHEN: Wednesday 15th October
TIME: 9:30am – 1:30pm
COST: FREE. Lunch Provided.
ACCESS INFO:
 Wheelchair accessible. Accessible toilet. Visit www.riversideparramatta.com.au for information on how to get Parramatta Riverside.
CONTACT: Bookings are essential. RSVP by 7 October to Jennifer Teo, Strategic Initiatives Co-ordinator, tel: 9251 6499 (ext 7) Tues/Wed or email jteo@aarts.net.au.
POW WOW is taking place as part of Bakehouse 13 – 17 October, an inclusive arts festival presented by sliced bread attraction. Full festival program available at www.slicedbreadattraction.org.au/bakehouse.
Fill in our short survey and be in the draw to win 2 free tickets to a Sydney Theatre Company 2008 Season production of your choice!!
In October 2008, Accessible Arts will be holding an Arts & Disability Forum in Western Sydney focusing on key issues within disability arts practice and the sector. The forum aims to bring people from the arts and disability fields together to share information and discuss ideas, provide professional development and networking opportunities. A fantastic cross-sector learning experience, the forum will be of interest to artists, arts workers, disability service providers, arts organisations, and local councils interested in accessible and inclusive arts programs and practices.
Accessible Arts is conducting a short survey to gather ideas on areas of interest and topics for the forum. We are interested to know what you want to know. Feedback gathered from the survey will be used to develop the program for the forum. We value your input and would greatly appreciate your contribution. Please submit your survey response by 20 June 2008.
Click Here to take the survey
Winners of the 2 free Sydney Theatre Company 2008 Season tickets will be announced on 24 June 2008.
Further Information
Any questions in relation to the forum contact Jennifer Teo, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator on ph 02 9251 6499 (ext 7) or email jteo@aarts.net.au.
Carers Week 2007 – 14-20 October
For Carers Week Accessible Arts presented a Digital Storytelling demonstration to indigenous carers at the Cabravale Leisure Centre (Cabramatta) and to AFFORD carers at their lovely Sensory Centre (Canley Vale) .
Digital Storytelling is story making using technology!!
Storytelling is the ancient art of conveying events in words, images, and sounds. Stories have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, preservation of culture and to instil knowledge and values. The earliest forms of storytelling were primarily oral combined with gestures and expressions and were traditionally passed from generation to generation, surviving solely by memory. Since the appearance of technology, the tools available to storytellers have changed. Nowadays, we have sound recorders, digital cameras, computers and various types of software to make and tell our stories. And so, Digital Storytelling is the practice of combining narrative with digital content, including images, sound, and video, to create a short movie, usually with strong emotional content.
Here are some photos of the Digital Storytelling demo at Cabravale Leisure Centre
Building a song, originally uploaded by Accessible Arts Western Sydney.
Indigenous Carers Gathering, originally uploaded by Accessible Arts Western Sydney.
Photos by Jennifer Teo
View photo gallery for Carers Week
On 3 September Accessible Arts were invited to be guest speakers at the Nepean Area Regional Disability Forum held at the lovely Santa Maria Centre in Lawson.
The forums provide an opportunity for people with disabilities, carers, disability workers & service providers in the Penrith, Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury areas to get together, network and talk about various topics and issues. It is also a place for learning, information sharing and a way to keep abreast with what is happening in the disability sector in the region.
The Nepean Area Regional Disability Forums are held bi-monthly on the first Monday of the month.
For more information on the forums and to find out more about the Strengthening Community Links Project contact Robyn Sedger on tel: (o2) 4732 2363 or email: rsedger@pdrc.org.au
Image: Nepean Area Regional Disability Forum
Image: Alison Richardson at the Santa Maria Centre, Lawson
Image: Jen Teo at the Santa Maria Centre
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