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Creative Programs
Visual Arts Tutors
Lorna Crane
Painting, textiles, craft, mixed media and community art workshops.
Client Focus:
- Mobility disability
- Moderate Intelectual disability
- Hearing disability
- Speech diability
- Psychiatric disability
Adults all ages (18+)
Biography:
Experience ranges from working as an arts and community worker with Mental Health and Disability for over 15 years (ACT). Established the Belconnen Open Art Program, ACT. My approach to a workshop is focussed around a sense of purpose and place. There is an emphasis on teaching skills that are achievable in a supportive and caring environment. The process is also organic within the framework of the workshop allowing people to develop artistically and as an individual.
Region: NSW, South East, NSW Illawarra, NSW South West, ACT.
Contact: Email: warby@asitis.net.au
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Katishe Grudnoff
Visual arts, music and drama workshops.
Client Focus:
- Mobility disability
- Moderate Intellectual disability
- Severe Intellectual disability
- Cognitive disability
- Psychiatric disability
Young people (13-17), adults (18+)
Biography:
I have had extensive experience organising programs and workshops for youth with special needs. I mostly work with visual art but also enjoy music and drama. I have helped lead music and art programs for various camps and conventions. I have also had experience working with younger children (4-8yrs) with severe autism working as a behavioural therapist implementing ABA therapy. I am also currently volunteering at a centre that runs art programs for adults with various mental and physical disabilities.
Region: Sydney
Contact: Mobile: 0402 708 052 Email: tisheg@yahoo.com
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Megan Holloway
Visual Arts, Craft, Art Therapy
Client focus:
- Moderate Intellectual disability
- Severe Intellectual disability
- Hearing disability
- Speech disability
- Sight disability
- Cognitive disability
- Brain injury
Adults all ages (18+)
Biograpy:
The work I do is art facilitation. However the Graduate Diploma in Expressive Therapies has given me a foundation to view art facilitation and people's arts processes in new ways. The work I have done with an art therapist in the rehabilitation setting has also provided new insights into art and health. My experience includes working with people who have difficulty or inability to communicate and are wheelchair bound with limited and difficulty using their hands. In this rehabilitation setting I have worked as an assistant in art therapy sessions in an ongoing weekly art therapy group.
Region: Sydney, Inner West, QLD.
Contact: Email: meganh80@hotmail.com
Claire Hogan
Drawing, Poetry, Creative Writing
Client Focus:
- Sight disability
Adults all ages (18+), All ages
Biography:
I show participants that anyone can draw/paint. I have 5% sight and have developed many strategies & skills to overcome the physical challenges. My workshops give practical demonstrations and use storytelling and immerse participants in a sensory experience.
Region: NSW, Mid North Coast.
Contact: Phone: 02 6655 1159. Email: poet@bellingen.com
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Nyree Reynolds
Painting workshops, indigenous art.
Client focus:
- Mobility disability
- Moderate Intellectual disability
- Cognitive disability
- Psychiatric disability
Adults all ages (18+), youth (12 years +)
Biography:
I am an Indigenous woman of the Gamillaroi Nation and an artist member of Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co op. I have facilitated art workshops for intellectually disabled adults in Blayney. We worked towards a very well received exhibition. My work is based around teaching colour mixing and composition, then the participants are free to choose a subject that interests them, which I help them to pursue to their ability. I have worked with intellectually disabled young adults in Cowra. My brother, who is now 50, is epileptic and has an intellectual disability so I have been involved with people with disabilities all my life.
Region: NSW, Central West.
Contact: 55 Orange Rd, Blayney, NSW, 2799. Phone: 02 6368 2438. Mobile: 0409 326 368 Email: nyree@caminka.com
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Ann Sheridan
Visual Arts, Art Therapy, Creative Writing
Client focus:
- Mobility disability
- Moderate Intellectual disability
- Hearing disability
- Speech disability
- Sight disability
- Cognitive disability
- Brain injury
- Psychiatric disability
Seniors (60+)
Biography:
I am concerned with both the physical and mental well being of a client, and how their experience impacts upon them. Having worked in Arts all my life I am also interested in the therapeutic benefits of the creative process in relation to well being. I am interested in all needs, but have recently been engaged with clients in the areas of: depression, anxiety, loss of mobility, loss in general, death issues, abandonment and grief. In addition to this I have also been working with clients in the areas of mental health. My knowledge of psychology and art is broad giving me plenty of options in how to engage with various client bases. My work involves group and one to one sessions, the groups may be run along structured directive lines, or may be open with little or no theme. In addition to running art therapy groups and one to one sessions I also facilitate a group discussion regularly on an artist or painting, encouraging residents to bring their own experience to the discussion.
Region: CBD; East Sydney; Inner West; Western Sydney; North Shore; South Sydney.
Contact: Email: anns@ihug.com.au
Nambucca Valley Phoenix
Visual Arts - painting, pottery and craft
Client Focus:
- Mobility disability
- Moderate Intellectual disability
- Hearing disability
- Speech disability
- Cognitive disability
- Psychiatric disability
Adults all ages (18+)
Biography:
I manage an Arts Collective for people with intellectual disabilities in a supported setting. We have local community artists working in the same area as artists with disabilities. We have dedicated staff that support the artists at Phoenix. We have developed a teamwork approach for crafts where people develop their own skills in a supported environment. We provide workshops to teach new skills and involve other artists to develop skills.
Region: Mid North Coast
Contact: P.O. Box 121, Bowraville NSW 2449. Phone: 02 65647677.
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Allegra Salter
Visual Arts, Cross-artforms.
Client Focus:
- Mobility disability
- Severe Intellectual disability
- Speech disability
- Sight disability
- Cognitive disability
- Brain injury
Youth (13-17), any age group.
Biography:
I have cerebral palsy. I use augmentative communication and an electric wheelchair. I have just begun my work in this area. I and my co-artist work to develop awareness of the possibilities for severely disabled people to access art given the encouragement and innovative approach that is required in each unique situation. Watching me achieve art based creativity models the very thing we are trying to help others achieve. Although I am physically unable to execute many of the physical demands of my creations I am able to choose colour, texture, themes, furbishing, size etc. In short all the decisions are made by me. I want to open creativity up to others like myself who don't ever have the opportunity to do such joyful things. For two years I have been involved in textile based artworks with a co-artist. I have a goal to develop my skills and experience in many art forms and to encourage and model the active involvement of other people with high support needs in the enjoyment and experience of expressing oneself.
Region: Central West NSW
Contact: PO Box 43, Blayney NSW 2799. Phone: 02 63682550 Email: allegra@tadaust.org.au
Ruth Katz
Sculpture & Craft
Client Focus:
- Mobility disability
- Moderate intellectual disability
- Speech disability
- Sight disability
- Brain injury
Children (5-12)
Biography:
I have personal experience in dealing and working with special needs individuals - (physically and mentally impaired) I am also a qualified Pre-school teacher and am currently obtaining a further qualification as an Aide for Special Needs. I am a sculptor and have a Fine Arts Certificate, acquired at The Sydney Gallery School (Meadowbank Tafe) I am also 3/4 way through the Fine Arts diploma- Part-time. As a sculptor, I have worked with various materials including clay, wax, wood, metal- in assemblages, modeling, carving and bronze casting. I have a strong desire to implement or facilitate arts programmes to enable special needs individuals to have creative outlet for themselves.
Region: Sydney, Lower North Shore, Upper North Shore, Inner West
Contact: 2 Nara Place, St Ives NSW, 2075. Phone: 02 99064066. Mobile: 0412 531 125 Email: katz@unwired.com.au
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Kylie Ramsay
Visual Arts, Community Events, Community Cultural Development
Client Focus:
- Mobility disability
- Moderate intellectual disability
- Severe intellectual disability
- Hearing disability
- Speech disability
- Sight disability
- Cognitive disability
- Brain injury
- Psychiatric disability
Adults all ages (18+), Children and young people, specifically young people at risk or suffering disadvantage, young people with learning and behaviour disorders.
Biography:
I am a Residential Support Worker for people with moderate to severe intellectual disability. Part-time TAFE teacher for Visual Arts in Disability, Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Practice, Fine Arts, Illawarra Institute. Project Artist for Riverbank Park Youth Arts Project (Tuggeranong Arts Centre) Project Artist for Yass Valley Council 'Beat Graffiti' Project. Visiting Artist, Yass High School. Behavioural Support Program. My community art work involves design workshops, mosaic, aerosol art, stencil work, sculpture and environmental artwork. I work with a cross-section of young people, particularly those termed 'at risk'. This includes risk of drug and alcohol misuse, poverty, learning difficulties, behavioural problems, family conflict and violence, and mental illness.
Region: NSW - Southern Tablelands, ACT.
Contact: 62 Lead Street Yass NSW 2582. Phone: 02 6226 3532 Email: kylieramsay@ozemail.com.au
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Fida Haq
Painting, Ceramics, Film & Multimedia.
Client Focus:
- Mobility disability
- Moderate Intellectual disability
- Severe Intellectual disability
- Hearing disability
- Speech disability
- Sight disability
- Cognitive disability
- Brain injury
- Psychiatric disability
Famillies, Youth
Biography:
I facilitate workshops aimed at improved bonding between parents and their children by letting them enjoy, share and complement each other through sessions of creative expressions. The parent-child relationship takes a creative term when they express their primordial feelings through marks and colour. Though these sessions are not target oriented in terms obtaining an end product, sometimes a canvas or a tile painted together, or a digital image that has been worked on together can end up being a much loved object to keep and exhibit for a long time, if not for a lifetime. Working as the 'Artist Facilitator' for Baulkham Hills Shire Council at Lifestart's ( www.lifestart.org.au ) Early Childhood Intervention Centre at Old Toongabbie. Please see www.fidahaq.net.au/access2art.php for more info. I've also participated as an artist in a group exhibition at the Royal Institute for the Blind and Deaf Children at North Rocks.
Region: Sydney, West.
Contact: Mobile: 0422 418 272 Email: fidahaq@fidahaq.net.au
Website: www.fidahaq.net.au
Ellie Lanyon
Sculpture, Drawing, Painting, Craft
Client Focus:
- Moderate Intellectual disability
- Severe Intellectual disability
- Hearing disability
- Speech disability
- Cognitive disability
- Brain injury
All ages, adults 18+, Children and adolescents.
Biography:
I am currently employed with Autism Spectrum NSW at the Southside Employment and Community Participation Centres. I have designed and implemented an art program for the clients, who are adults with autism and learning disabilities. I aim to totally involve the client in the experience, from selecting the medium, implement and surface, to choosing colours and assisting in any preparation. Emphasis is on the process of creation as opposed to the final product. I use visual aids and basic sign language to communicate with non-verbal clients. The art projects are aimed at developing spatial relationships, sequencing, fine motor skills, tactile awareness, attention span, goal setting and pride in accomplishment.
Region: Sydney
Contact: Phone: 0419744865. Email: ellielanyon@hotmail.com
Diamando Koutsellis
Community Art, public art, drawing
Client Focus:
- Moderate Intellectual disability
- Severe Intellectual disability
- Hearing impaired/Deaf
- Vision impaired
- Brain injury
- Mental illness
All ages, children, youth, adults, aged.
Biography:
I am a visual artist that has worked with community groups, public art, children, people with intellectual and physical disabilities and with indigenous people. I have run workshops that has been linked to public art and community art pieces. I facilitated a work for the dole group to make sets for a theatre company as well as drawing workshops in Australia and abroad.
Region: CBD, Western Suburbs, Inner West, Eastern Suburbs
Contact: Phone: 0439 935228. Email: diamando.koutsellis@gmail.com
Tamara Killick
Film/video, Photography, Visual arts
Client Focus:
- Moderate Intellectual disability
- Limited mobility
- Hearing impaired/Deaf
- Communication impaired
- Vision impaired
- Brain injury
- Mental illness
Children, youth, adults.
Biography:
I have been developing my skills as a visual artist since 1984, and have facilitated and coordinated community art and cultural projects and events since 1996. This includes mural projects, festivals, art markets, photographic and film workshops, visual art programs and Community art exhibitions. For the past five years I have worked primarily as an art tutor and outreach artsworker. I have experience working with individuals and groups broadly referred to as marginalised, special needs and high risk. Currently I am employed by the (City of Sydney Council) Pine Street Creative Arts centre as an outreach worker/tutor.
Region: Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, Sydney CBD
Contact: Email: tkillick@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Sari Kivinen
Visual arts, multimedia
Client Focus:
- Moderate Intellectual disability
- Severe Intellectual disability
- Limited mobility
- Hearing impaired/Deaf
- Communication impaired
- Vision impaired
- Brain injury
- Mental illness
Adults, aged.
Biography:
My art practice consists of performance, video and multimedia. I hold an Honours Degree in Fine Arts and more recently have studied Expressive Therapies at a post graduate level. In my performance work I often develop and act out various roles in a variety of situations - I am influenced by dramatic theories around role-play. I have worked in several health care settings predominately working with nursing home residents with severe dementia and limited mobility, implementing art activities catered to residents‘ individual needs in both group and one-to-one situations. I am also fluent in Finnish.
Region: Western Suburbs
Contact: Phone: 0421 728195 . Email: sari_tm@hotmail.com
Kelly Leonard
Textiles, handweaving
Client Focus:
- Moderate Intellectual disability
- Severe Intellectual disability
- Limited mobility
- Hearing impaired/Deaf
- Communication impaired
- Vision impaired
- Brain injury
- Mental illness
Children, adults
Biography:
I am a hand weaver. I work on a floor loom whose design is unchanged from past centuries. I have worked as a weaving teacher with various community groups, Regional Art Galleries, festivals and at the College of Fine Arts, UNSW. My main interest is the promotion of art and craft within local communities. In particular, I am interested in people’s relationship to patterns and materials and how they use them expressively. I have a Masters of Art from the Canberra School of Art and a Masters of Arts Management from the University of Technology, Sydney.
Region: Western Sydney, Inner West, North Shore, Northern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs, St George & Sutherland, Hills District, Sydney.
Contact: Email: fabricated_@hotmail.com
Sarah Jay
Photography, Visual arts
Client focus:
- Moderate Intellectual disability
- Limited mobility
- Hearing impaired/Deaf
- Communication impaired
- Vision impaired
- Mental illness
Youth (13-17), adults, aged (65+)
Biography:
My experience is diverse, working with different groups with varying artistic abilities. My experience is mainly within mental health, but I have also worked with children, degree students, amputees, palliative care and dementia sufferers. My art skills are varied from photography, printmaking and painting to craft skills such as jewellery and model making. I graduated with an MA in Painting from The Royal College of Art, UK. One of the most important aspects of my role is to encourage creativity and support the individual to reach their full potential.
Region: Western Sydney, Inner West, North Shore, Northern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs, St George & Sutherland, Hills District, Sydney.
Contact: Phone: 0420 827 964 Email: sarahjay18@hotmail.com
Eric Niebuhr
Drawing, Painting, Collage, 3D Sculpture, Mixed Media
Client focus:
- Limited mobility
- Moderate-Severe Intellectual disability
- Hearing impaired/Deaf
- Communication impaired
- Vision impaired
- Brain injury
- Mental illness
Children (0-12yrs), youth (13-17yrs), adults (18- 65), aged 65 +
Biography:
I am a visual arts instructor with ten years experience in drawing, painting, collage, 3D sculpture and mixed media. I spent three years working at First Street Gallery in Claremont, California as an art instructor for adults (18+) with moderate to severe developmental disabilities. I designed and facilitated individual lessons and goals for clients depending on their needs and interests. My experience also includes formal and informal museum tours, community art workshops and lecturing in art history. My qualifications include MFA Art (Painting) Claremont Graduate Universtiy 2000, BFA Studio Art (Painting) University of Houston 1996.
Region: Western Suburbs, Inner West, Northern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs, CBD
Contact: Email: niebuhre@yahoo.com
Susan Oxenham
Photography, Visual arts
Client focus:
- Limited mobility
- Moderate Intellectual disability
- Hearing impaired/ Deaf
- Communication impaired
- Vision impaired
- Brain injury
- Mental illness
Children (0-12yrs); Youth (13-17yrs); Adults (18- 65); Aged 65 +
Biography:
Since I was 17, I have had a vision impairment through a Genetic Disorder called Von Hippell Lindau. I have been legally blind since 2005. Despite this, I have over 30 years experience in visual arts and photography in both a teaching and commercial capacity. I have experience in working with local Community Colleges and Youth groups. I have also taught Literacy through Art Programs for Adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, in which each student creates their own individual communication book.
Region: Western Sydney - Penrith preferred.
Contact: To contact Susan Oxenham, please email Josie Cavallaro jcavallaro@aarts.net.au
Fiona O‘ Beirne
Visual arts, Multimedia, Craft
Client focus:
- Limited mobility
- Moderate Intellectual disability
- Severe Intellectual disability
- Hearing impaired/ Deaf
- Communication impaired
- Vision impaired
- Brain injury
- Mental illness
Children (0-12yrs); Youth (13-17yrs); Adults (18- 65); Aged 65 +
Biography:
I have been a community art teacher for fifteen years. I teach various multimedia, drawing and painting techniques. I teach in a variety of mediums, which include pastel, acrylics, watercolours and charcoal. I have over ten years experience working with people with a disability. This experience was gained working within TAFE and community organisations. I have been an exhibiting artist for over seventeen years and have shown in such prestigious exhibitions as the Archibald Prize and the Portia Geach Portrait Prize. I also have a mild physical disability.
Region: CBD, Western Suburbs, Blue Mountains, Inner West, North Shore, Northern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs, St George & Sutherland shire
Contact: To contact Fiona O‘ Beirne, please email Josie Cavallaro jcavallaro@aarts.net.au
Website: www.fionaobeirne.com
David Capra
Visual arts
Client focus:
I have experience working with people who have
- Moderate Intellectual disability
I am interested in working with people who have
- Limited mobility
- Moderate Intellectual disability
- Severe Intellectual disability
- Hearing impaired/ Deaf
- Communication impaired
- Vision impaired
- Brain injury
- Mental illness
Children (0-12yrs); Youth (13-17yrs)
Biography:
I am a practicing artist working in collage, sculpture, drawing and painting. I have facilitated workshops with various cultural and community organisations as well as provided private tuition in art making and art history. I look forward to working on future projects that assist people in developing their creative skills and making art more accessible and rewarding.
Region: CBD, Western Suburbs, Blue Mountains, Inner West, North Shore, Northern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs, St George & Sutherland shire
Contact: Email: david_a_capra@yahoo.com
Website: www.davidcapra.com
Please note: Tutors have submitted their own details to the website. Accessible Arts does not endorse or recommend the tutors listed but provides this contact list as a resource for disability/arts organisations. It is the individual organisation's responsibility to check the credentials and experience of each tutor.