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Welcome to our June 2015 newsletter.

In this newsletter we farewell Gemma Stevens our Strategic Projects Manager and welcome Sarah Houbolt our new Access and Training Project Manager. We wish Gemma all the best in her new project management role, and look forward to working with Sarah on a range of access initiatives. Accessible Arts is now recruiting the role of Strategic Projects Manager. A full position description can be found online at the Employment page on our website.

Accessible Arts warmly invites you to attend a talk by Murmuration Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Sarah-Vyne Vassallo, and Artistic Associate Dan Daw, as part of its ‘Creative Causeway’ initiative. Join Accessible Arts and other key stakeholders in the arts + disability sector to share expertise, networks and professional arts practice on Thursday 30 July 2015 at The Arts Exchange, The Rocks. Visit the Accessible Arts News Section for booking information.

Sancha Donald, CEO, would also like to acknowledge the contribution that the Australia Council for the Arts has made under its new funding model; $260,480 was distributed to the NSW arts and disability sector in its recent funding announcement. We look forward to following the development of these exciting new projects.

Ripple Effect Deaf Arts School Holiday Program

Join the Deaf Arts Network School Holiday Program for 5 days of workshops for 10-13 and 14-17 year olds. This fun-filled program will be led by professional Deaf artists Anna Seymour, Jessica Moody, Alex Jones and Kirk O’Meara-Presley. Don't miss out! Please register your interest by Wednesday 3 July 2015, 5pm AEDST. Visit the Accessible Arts website for full program information.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Need You!

We are looking for voluntary Deaf or hard of hearing skilled sign singers to join us to perform Handel's ‘Messiah’ with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Our aim is to form a choir of 20 people who will commit to the project and all the performances. To find out how to apply please visit the Deaf Arts Network webpage.

Seeking Deaf and Hard of Hearing Artists

Accessible Arts is aiming to develop a Deaf artist directory. This directory will be used to provide information to arts, disability and community organisations that wish to employ independent Deaf or hard of hearing artists, or Deaf arts workers. Artists must have a minimum of 5 years professional practice in any artform, live in New South Wales, and have experience of working with people with disability. Please visit the Deaf Arts webpage to find out how to apply.

The Typists promotional image with two lead female characters

Amplify artist Goldele Rayment's direction "is effectively simple...strangely affecting." - The Age

The Typists is an absurd comedy about the perils of office life. Paula talks big about becoming a lawyer and climbing the corporate ladder; Sylvia, is a bitterly single shopaholic who dreams of marriage. The Typists taps into our deepest fears: being trapped in dead end jobs, doing trivial work, dying alone or settling for a passionless relationship.

When: 8 to 24 July 2015, 8pm - Wednesday to Friday (no show Saturday.) 5pm on Sunday. Unwaged performance 15 July at 2pm.

Where: The Exchange Hotel Balmain, 94 Beattie Street, Balmain.

Book Tickets: www.companyrogues.com

Director Goldele Rayment was a successful 2014 recipient of the Accessible Arts' Amplify your art grants program.

Donate to Accessible Arts before June 30

With the financial year end nigh, please assist Accessible Arts to build its programs and services through a tax deductible donation.

For people with disability, enjoying a movie may not be as easy as an impromptu trip to the cinema. Going to a concert may not be as straight forward as buying a ticket and turning up. Opportunities to progress your own artistic talent can also be limited, if you have a disability.

Accessible Arts works to address these barriers through promoting full inclusion, access and cultural opportunities for people with disability in the arts. We do this work through advocacy, education and information. You can donate today by visiting The Give Now website to donate online.

Donate to Accessible Arts | Get involved with Promise or Pay

Training

Disability Awareness Training - 12 August 2015

"Disability Awareness Training is the critical link between wanting to be more accessible and making that a reality". [Amanda Tink, Training Consultant]

Join Accessible Arts on Wednesday 12 August to gain a practical understanding of disability in society.

This "not the usual tick the box training" is relevant to participants working at any level of an arts organisation, arts practice or social policy. [City of Sydney]

To book or find out more information please contact Sarah Houbolt, Access and Training Project Manager, by email shoubolt@aarts.net.au. Visit the Accessible Arts Training webpage to find out costs and booking information.

Accessible Arts Grants

A reminder about the new Accessible Arts' Grants Program that consists of Quick Response Grants up to $5,000 and Small Grants from $5,000 – $20,000, over two grant rounds in 2015 and 2016.

Grants are for creative projects and/or ideas that improve access for people with brain and/or spinal cord injuries, and people with disability more generally. The funding program supports arts and cultural projects at any stage of their creative development and/or public presentation.

Visit the Accessible Arts Grants webpage to find out how to apply.

Featured Artist

Over the last five weeks artist and illustrator Eric Atkins has been working with artists Kim Staples and Max Hillier to develop characters and a storyline for his new children's book. Eric has been learning how to draw cartoon characters using the circle method and also doing some work on shading. Eric is enjoying the weekly workshops and the opportunity to work with Kim and Max. “I really want to tell some of my story through the characters and I am enjoying this project very much” .

Eric is being mentored as part of the 'Heading Out' project which is an exciting one-year strategic partnership in regional development between Accessible Arts and the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council on the NSW Mid-North Coast. Full article can be read on the Feature News section of Accessible Arts' website.

Image of soprano reclining on a chase lounge

Opera Australia's La Traviata, Audio Described

The champagne is flowing, celebrations are in full swing. Lights, music and dancing fill the air and Parisian party girl, Violetta, is the life and soul of the party. And as she contemplates a life of love, it seems as though the party will never end.

For more information about the audio described performance of La Traviata, please visit the Sydney Opera House website.

When: Saturday 18 July, 2015.

For bookings please call + 61 2 9318 8200 or email ticketing@opera.org.au

Featured | Arts + Disability Videos

Newsletter features in Auslan by Joanna Agius.

Accessible Arts presented the Arts Activated 2014 Conference on Tuesday 28 – Wednesday 29 October, at The Concourse, Chatswood, Sydney. Watch the trailer produced by UnBard TV.

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