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.
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.
A workshop in the latest street dance moves culminating in a performance. The workshops are open to 15 to 18 year olds of mixed abilities. Great for young people living with a disability and their friends and siblings. The workshop will be conducted over 3 days, each session is 3 hours.
“These workshops offer young people of all abilities an experience within a performing arts environment and work towards creating communities that are aware and inclusive of people living with disability,” said Matt Stewart, InterAct Workshop Coordinator, Accessible Arts.
Places are strictly limited to 15. Bookings essential.
The Museum of Fire in Penrtih is one of Australia’s largest community run museums whose staff are mostly volunteers and fire-fighters. The museum has one of the largest fire collections in the world including large fire-fighting vehicles dating from the late 18th century up to the 1980’s. The museum also houses an impressive collection of fire-fighting equipment and memorabilia.
The Museum of Fire is a not for profit, registered charity and any funds raised go towards educating the community about the dangers of fire and preserving our fire-fighting heritage.
Located on the ground floor, the museum is wheelchair accessible and is already well accessed by disability organisations who form a core part of their visitation. The museum also has accessible toilets and parking.
Their current permanent exhibitions incorporate interactive components including fire engine rides and an accessible activities corner. There is a driving simulation game with ramp access for people in wheelchairs.
Museum of Fire - Activity Corner
The museum is also currently looking at ways to improve access such as upgrading their computer station to include touch screens, assistive technology and adjustable desks.
The Museum of Fire is located on 1 Museum Drive, Penrith NSW. Open 7 days per week, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Sunday & Holidays.
Katy Green teaching drama workshops at the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery
The Open Programs have wrapped up another successful series of dance and shadow puppetry workshops in Tern 2 for people with a disability in Western Sydney.
Drama Workshops
At the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery tutor Katy Green made maximum use of the Gallery space by engaging the participants directly with the works of the current exhibition. Katy developed circus theme exercises & activities based on the exhibition: Circus in Australian Art, making the exhibition experience more rich and meaningful for the participants by making it a multi sensory experience – an excellent example of good practice.
Shadow Puppetry Workshops
At The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre tutor Stephen Carr facilitated a wonderful shadow puppetry show with participants for an end of term public performance. Participants were actively involved in all the puppet creation as well as maneuvering the puppets during the performance to tell the story of Myths and Legends from the sea.
More workshops in Term 3 @The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre
Q Theatre Company are offering more workshops in Term 3 on Fridays beginning 31 July 2009. Get in quick as places are limited. Bookings essential. For bookings contact James Fischer at the Q Theatre on tel: (02) 4723 7613 or email: jfischer@jspac.com.au.
In term three the Q Theatre Company is offering two exciting workshops for people with a disability.
Workshop One: 3 Dimensional Rod Puppetry run by Stephen Carr
Participants will learn skills in storytelling, creating three dimensional puppets and literacy.
Workshop Two: Acting and Improvisation
Participants will learn skills in acting, movement and improvisation.
Bookings are essential as there is a maximum 10 participants per workshop.
When: 10:30am – 12:30pm every Friday from 31 July to 2 October 2009. There will be a workshop performance on Friday 2 October 2009.
Where: Q Theatre Company, Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, 597 High Street, Penrith NSW.
Who: People with a disability
Costs: $100 per participant per term. Please note due to demand workshops must be paid in advance at the start of each term.
Contact: For more information & to book your place, contact James Fischer tel: (02) 4723 7613 email: jfischer@jspac.com.au.
A practical workshop to impart valuable ‘tools’ and processes to creatively engage with communities. The workshop will be facilitated by Margie Breen, Accessible Arts and the Mixed Abilities Ensemble (PYT) featuring inclusive practice and techniques.
RSVP by 5pm Thursday 25th June
When: Monday 29th June 2009, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Where: Orchestral Room, Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, 597 High Street, Penrith
Who: Artists, community artists, community development workers, social workers, local cultural organisations, carers, students, volunteers.
Cost: FREE
Contact: For further information contact Cali Vandyk-Dunlevy, Cultural Development Officer Local, on tel: (02) 4732 8098 or email cvandyk-dunlevy@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au
Access: Accessible venue and toilets. Accessible parking is available in the Penrith City Council parking adjacent to the centre. Visit the website for more access information.
The Q Theatre Company are again conducting the popular Shadow Puppetry workshop series with local puppeteer Stephen Carr.
Book now as places are limited!
When: Friday 1 May – Friday 10 July 2009.
Where: Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, 597 High Street Penrith
Contact: James Fischer, Education and Audience Development Manager, JSPAC tel: (02) 4723 7613
Access: Accessible venue and toilets. Accessible parking is available in the Penrith City Council parking adjacent to the centre. More access information here.
A fabulous end of term workshop performance took place at The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre on 2 April, as part of the Accessible Arts Open Program. The Open Program is a skills development workshop series that will aim to operate out of all major arts centres across Western Sydney. The Open Program currently exists at the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery and the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith.
The latest workshop series to take place was in Shadow Puppetry at The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre with local puppeteer Stephen Carr. Stephen and the participants from two services in the region, AFFORD Windsor & NADO (Lawson), spent the first 4 weeks constructing the puppets and the following 4 weeks rehearsing the show, which was based on two fables taken from Pacific Island folklore.
Accessible Arts Creative Program Coordinator, Alison Richardson, attended the performance and said, “It was great to see how everyone could be involved in the performance by either manipulating and/ or being the voice for the puppet. And really great for those that are a little shy as they are behind a screen, so no one need know who they are but they are still involved.”
For more information on the Open Program contact Alison Richardson on tel: (02) 9251 6499 (ext 112) or arichardson@aarts.net.au.
From May to October, Penrith City Council will be holding the Toolkit Workshop Series, 6-workshops that explore the nuts and bolts of what puts a great Community Cultural Development project together. CCD projects are known for bringing together artists and communities to work creatively together with many positive benefits for those involved. Featuring guest speakers from across the arts, community and cultural sector it promises to be an inspiring program.
As part of the Toolkit series Alison Richardson (Creative Programs Coordinator, Accessible Arts) will be presenting An Inclusive Approach, a workshop on inclusive practices and accessible creative projects and programs for people with a disability.
Date: Tuesday 24th June 10:30am – 1:00pm. Venue: Alan Mullins Hall, Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, 597 High Street Penrith. Access: Wheelchair accessible venue. Cost: FREE RSVP: 5:00pm Friday 20th June 2008. Limited places.
For more information: Contact Cali Vandyk-Dunlevy, Cultural Development Officer Local, on ph 02 4732 8098 or email cvandyk-dunlevy@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au. Visit the Penrith City Council website.
Accessible Arts partnered with Information & Cultural Exchange to deliver a series of six workshops in sound and image collection. The workshops engaged various special schools, support units, day programs and accommodation services in the Hawkesbury, Penrith and Blue Mountains region, and more than fifty participants were actively involved. Under the direction of professional artists, participants used mini disc recorders and digital stills cameras to capture the sights and sounds that constitute the Places and Spaces they inhabit.
Participating services include Tallowood Special School (Kellyville); Xavier College (Llandilo); AFFORD Day Options (Windsor); AFFORD Cherrywood Accommodation Service (Llandilo); Disability Enterprises – Leura Day Options (Blue Mountains).
As part of My Space, My Place a multimedia exhibition showcasing the results of the workshops will take place at the Powerhouse Youth Theatre, Fairfield.
Cherrywood Accommodation Service (Llandilo) & Leura Day Options (Katoomba)
