Welcome to our April 2017 Newsletter
Welcome to the April 2017 Accessible Arts newsletter.
Accessible Arts is pleased to present the latest in arts and disability news, with a state, national and international focus.
[Banner image credit: Artist Nathan Gooley with his 'Superheroes and Monsters' artworks on a gallery wall. Photo Natsky]
Sign up for our next Disability Awareness Training session!
Held several times a year, Accessible Arts runs open training sessions for anyone interested in arts and disability to book into, whether they are managers, policy makers, frontline staff, cultural advisers, small businesses, and creative practitioners. This training offers practical and innovative solutions that provides confidence in engaging effectively with people with disability. Our next session will be held on Friday 9 June 10am-1pm at the Arts Exchange Building in the Rocks. For more information and to register, please contact our Operations Manager, Kay Richardson on krichardson@aarts.net.au by Wednesday 31 May 2017.
We can also tailor make in-house training to suit your organisation. During an initial consultation, we work with you to assess your current situation and define specific areas of focus to deliver responsive training that meets your needs. We also offer specialised access consulting services, which can increase your organisation’s capacity to meet legislative, cost and audience development considerations. We specialise in working with organisations to develop their Disability Inclusion Action Plans (DIAPs). For more information please do get in touch with us!
Live, Work, Play: NSW 'State of Inclusion' Conference
The NSW Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) invites you to attend a two-day conference to showcase the progress being made towards building a more inclusive NSW.
Join FACS on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 May 2017 to learn about best practice approaches to community inclusion in relation to tourism, employment and assistive technology. The two-day event will comprise keynote and plenary sessions, workshops, cocktail function and an exhibitor area.
- LIVE - Liveable communities and
accessible and inclusive tourism planning
- WORK - Employment for people with
disability
- PLAY - Assistive technology and
accessible IT to enhance inclusion for all.
You will hear from keynote speakers Dr Karen E. Wolffe (global employment expert for people with vision impairment), Mark McLane (Head of Global Diversity and Inclusion for Barclays PLC) and Sandra Chipchase (CEO Destination NSW). They will join a host of other national leaders in tourism, technology, disability and business.
Don’t miss this opportunity to join the conversation and link with peers to set the course for NSW to be the most inclusive place to live, work and play in the world.
REGISTER NOW - www.stateofinclusion.nsw.gov.
'Music Venues Sort Out Your Access', says Rob Maddison
Photograph by Sigga Ella
Rob Maddison played in bands all his life, but it wasn’t until a spinal cord injury left him paralysed in 2007 that he began to wonder: where are all the disabled musicians?
Rob could think of disabled sports people, yes. But musicians? At the time, he could only name about five.
It couldn’t be the case that people with disability just don’t “do” music, so why didn’t he see them anywhere? Read Rob's full article in the Guaridan online news here.
NSW Artists Feature in ABC Series 'You Can't Ask That'
Photo of Ruckus Ensemble Members Digby Webster and Chris Bunton.
'You Can't Ask That' asks people with Down syndrome the awkward, inappropriate or uncomfortable questions you've always wanted to know the answers to, but never had the guts to ask.
Accessible Arts is excited to see NSW artists and advocates with Down Syndrome on the program, including Ruckus Ensemble Members Chris Bunton, Audrey O'Connor and Digby Webster; independent artists Nathan Basha and Tracie Sammut, and advocate Leigh Creighton, a part of this wonderful series.
'You Can't Ask That' is an ABC original series that asks controversial questions and aims to offer insight into the lives of marginalised communities and break down stereotypes while answering the questions people are afraid to ask.
CEO Message
Hello and welcome to our April newsletter. I am six weeks into my new role here, and learning lots and excited about our work ahead. This has been a period of transition, with several staff members coming and going. I’d sincerely like to thank outgoing staff Sofya Gollan, Tammy Brennan and Michael Huxley for their outstanding contribution to our organisation and wish them all the best with their future endeavours.
I’m also excited to introduce our new staff members – Riona Tindal (Deaf Arts Officer), Kay Richardson (Operations Manager) and Jane Easton (Marketing and Communications Manager) – who I know are all looking forward to working with you in the future.
Over coming months, we’ll be reaching out to hear views on how our organisation can add value to your work, through a period of sector consultation. We’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas, so feel free to get in touch with us anytime on our details below. All the best and I look forward to meeting you soon!
ATAG Meeting
Accessing the Arts Group (ATAG) is a professional development group for arts organisations and venues, aiming to provide both support and information to improve disability access and social inclusion. New members are very welcome to come along and participate in this discussion.
Our next ATAG meeting will be held on Thursday 11 May 8.30am-10am at the Australia Council for the Arts, 372 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills.
At this meeting, we will be hearing about recent access developments happening at Australia Council for the Arts and the Art Gallery NSW (AGNSW). The AGNSW will speak about their new Disability Inclusion Action Plan. Participants will also discuss future priorities and topics for this group to cover during the remainder of 2017.
For more information, or to RSVP, please contact our Operations Manager, Kay Richardson on krichardson@aarts.net.au.
Critical Dialogues Issue 7.2
Photo of artist Matt Shilcock.
Don't forget to read Critical Path's 'Critical Dialogues' Issue 7.2. An article written by dance artist Linda Luke about Accessible Arts Small Grant recipient Powerhouse Youth Theatre's project, 'Dance Diaries’, is included in Volume Two of 'Reclaiming Spaces: Artists with disability redefining dance'.
This volume includes some very good reading!
Read the article here online in the April e-journal Issue 7.2.
Unlimited Announcement
Photos of Terry Riley.
A performance exploring female desire, sexuality and neoliberalism, a roving installation celebrating mind-wandering and magic carpets, the formation of a House of disabled Vogue ball performers, and a dance between two bodies of air feature amongst Unlimited’s 24 incredible new commissions and awards, with over £945,000 going directly to making these ambitious artworks happen.
Watch the announcement film and read the full list of commissioned artists online now.
Auslan Welcome
View Accessible Arts Auslan welcome to the newsletter. Click the image for the link or access it here.
Stay up-to-date with our Deaf Arts News by joining the Deaf Arts Facebook Group.
Five Feisty and Fabulous
The Five Feisty and Fabulous Film Project offers filmmakers who identify as living with disability the opportunity to undertake a digital film workshop program. This funded project will provide five participants, the opportunity to tell five stories, in five minutes, in a digital film format.
The project will be hosted by Penrith Regional Gallery using their studio space and the accessible technology of iPads and smart phones.
Application deadline: Monday 24 April, midnight.
Please see the information pack for more details and submit your application.
Congratulations Sprung!! Integrated Dance Theatre
Photo by Katrina Folkwell.
Sprung!! Integrated Dance Theatre Longlisted for Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Community Dance Performance for 'Encounters' 2016.
Attracting dancers with and without disability from Yamba to Brisbane, Sprung!! has run some 60 inclusive workshops since 2012, providing paid work for some 30 local artists including 7 with disability. 'Encounters' was inspired by Rumi quote: 'Don’t look away from the bandaged part. That is where the Light gets in'.
Featured arts + disability video
Hack Sounds was founded by 107 Projects in 2015 with support from Accessible Arts to develop an inclusive community music program. It has been co-developed by Ability Links NSW to be the best possible way to gain an introduction to the murky world of electronic music production.
Visit the Hack Sounds website for more information - http://www.hacksounds.com/
Unsubscribe | Forward | View in browser
You are receiving this message from Accessible Arts. If you don't wish to receive any more messages, please click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this email.
Accessible Arts Level 3 | The Arts Exchange 10 Hickson Road The Rocks | Sydney | NSW | 2000 email: info@aarts.net.au | +61 2 9251 6499
Accessible Arts is assisted by the NSW Government through Arts NSW and Family and Community Services.
