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Creative Programs
Newsletter :: July 2008
Image: Brian Jungen, Crux, 2008, view of
mixed media installation at Cockatoo Island
for the 16th Biennale of Sydney 2008.
Welcome to the Accessible Arts July 2008 Newsletter. This month we congratulate participants of the Apprenticeship Training Program in Western Sydney, who will receive Certificate II in Live Production Theatre and Events. We also feature the Lord Mayor’s Community Access Day – a great opportunity for people with a disability to experience the 2008 Biennale: Revolutions – Forms that Turn.
Accessible Arts News
Training in technology at Apprenticeship
Training Program.
Live Production, Theatre and Events training produces ten young people ready for employment
Entertainment venues, producers and events organisations are invited to join Accessible Arts at their Apprenticeship Training Program presentation ceremony on Thursday 3 July at Raffertys, Parramatta Riverside Theatre, corner Church & Market Street, Parramatta from 6.30 to 7.30 pm. This function will offer an opportunity to tap into a pool of qualified participants to be awarded a Certificate II in Live Production, Theatre and Events. The Apprenticeship Training Program was developed by Accessible Arts in partnership with Julius Media, specialists in entertainment technology and training. It has provided ten people with a disability the opportunity to develop their technical skills and embark on or progress their careers in the entertainment industry. Discover the benefits of employing a person with a disability. Please register your interest in attending this event by contacting Alison Richardson tel: 02 9251 6499 (ext 5) orarichardson@aarts.net.au.
Basam at Karaoke World at Powerhouse
Youth Theatre, IDPWD 2006.
Shadow Puppetry, Music Making and Performance workshops in Western Sydney
Accessible Arts in partnership with three major arts centres in Western Sydney are offering open program workshops from July to September 2008. Shadow Puppertry workshops will commence on Wednesday 23 July to 24 September at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith. Blacktown Arts Centre will run workshops in Music Making using the Special Access Kit from Wednesday 16 July to 17 September. Workshops in Performance at the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery will run from Tuesday 29 July to 30 September. All workshops are facilitated by professional arts workers and have been devised in response to the need for performing arts based programs for people with a disability across the Western Sydney region. For more information contact Alison Richardson tel: 02 9251 6499 (ext 5) or arichardson@aarts.net.au.
Cliff Jackson at Disability Awareness and
Training
Arts organisations embrace disability training
Accessible Arts delivered a variety of training to the arts sector in June. Venue operators from the Sydney Film Festival and volunteers from the Sydney Writers Festival have benefited from information sessions, offering strategies to improve customer relations with people with a disability and assist with any access issues. The Historic Houses Trust enabled staff from a variety of their venues to attend accredited Disability Awareness and Training at Accessible Arts. Events coordinators, education officers and box office administrators from Government House through to the Museum of Sydney attended thetraining. Cliff Jackson, volunteer speaker with more than a decade of service to Vision Australia, presented a first hand account of being a theatre enthusiast with a vision impairment at the training. To discuss your organisations training needs call Jane Pollard, Training Manager tel: 02 9251 6499 (ext 3) or training.manager@aarts.net.au.
Law and Justice Foundation assist in removing obstacles
Accessible Arts has secured a small grant of $5,000 from the Law and Justice Foundation to complete the Access and Heritage Report: Removing the Obstacles. This report is due to be released by the end of the year with recommendations for legal reform that will enable easier implementation of accessible design in heritage spaces. As many arts organizations are based in heritage spaces, this report will providethe foundation for long-term change and lobbying initiatives. Project partners and contributors include Arts Law Centre of Australia, University of Technology Sydney Shopfront Community Program and Arts Access Australia. Part Two of the project will engage an architectural firm to investigate best practice accessible design in heritage spaces. For more information contact Alison McLaren tel: 02 9251 6499 (ext 6) or email amclaren@aarts.net.au.
Deaf Justice by Jonathan Soloman.
Profile: Jonathan Solomon, AART.BOXX committee member
Jonathan Solomon has a passion for the arts, and in particular a great appreciation of visual media. He is one of a group of young people with and without a disability, who is steering the future direction of AART.BOXX - Accessible Arts annual exhibition showcasing the creative talents of young Australian artists under the age of 30 with adisability. Jonathan is a law graduate with ambitions of a career in acommunity law centre or in private practice specializing in intellectual property. He has a strong interest in disability relate dissues and how people with a disability adapt to mainstream society. Jonathan has a severe hearing loss that throughout his school years was mitigated by the use of hearing aids and wonderful assistive technology. His hearing loss has greatly contributed to his appreciation of visual media.
Sydney Writers Festival events now online.
Photograph Prudence Upton.
Audience Development Tip: Podcasts improve access for audience members with profound disabilities
The Sydney Writers Festival have uploaded podcasts of some of this year’s most popular sessions to websites such as The Book Show - ABC Radio National, Slow TV - an internet TV channel and ABC Fora - a new multi-platform project on the ABC. Events can be viewed or listened to on any computer with internet access using media player software and are free. VoIP technology can also be used for podcasts. This increases access for all audiences including people with profound disabilities. There are currently twelve sessions listed on the Sydney Writers Festival website available for download via the above websites. More will be added over the coming weeks, so stay tuned. For more ideas on access initiatives, contact Alison McLaren tel: 02 9251 6499 (ext 6) or amclaren@aarts.net.au.
Sector News
Lara Favaretto, Plotone, 2005, compressed
air tanks, pressureregulators, timers,
electrovalves, whistles, plastic cables,
dimensionsvariable.
Lord Mayors Community Access Day: Revolutions – Forms that Turn
The 2008 Biennale of Sydney, Australia’s leading festival of contemporary art and long term partner of Accessible Arts, will present the Lord Mayor’s Community Access Day on Saturday 23 August from 10.00am to 4.30 pm. With over 180 of the world’s most exciting artists on show, this event will unlock the Biennale’s key themes and artworks for people with a disability. Free guided tours at the Art Gallery of NSW, Museum of Comtemporary Art (MCA) and Pier 2/3 The Wharf will be audio described and Auslan interpreted. A tour with tactile experiences andeasy to understand descriptions for people with intellectual disabilities is also available. Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover Moore will launch the access day with an opening address at 10.00 am at Pier 2/3 The Wharf. A free accessible bus will circulate between Circular Quay, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of NSW and Pier 2/3 throughout the day. For more information or to book into any or all of the Community Access Day tours contact Alison McLaren tel: 02 9251 6499(ext 6) or amclaren@aarts.net.au.
Silence is Golden forum, Sydney Film
Festival, 2008.
Sydney Film Festival: Award winning Accessible Cinema wraps up
Accessible Cinema at the 55th Sydney Film Festival has proven extremely popular in the audience polls for the second year running. The movie Red like the Sky, based on sound editor Mirco Mencacci’s childhood experiences of being blind, won an Audience Award for best feature at a satellite venue. The audio described documentary River of No Return, was among the top rating Australian movies. The attendance for other audio described screenings was extremely well received. Coral Arnold, a filmgoer with low vision, commented: “I was able to enjoy Children of the Silk Road and When Did You Last See Your Father. The audio description gave clarity to the action in the film and a much better picture of the setting and scenery. It’s a great addition to the movie experience”. Host of the Silence is Golden? forum, Alex Varley and CEO of Media Access Australia, launched into the forum by declaring “Access to cinema is the new black!” and the Sydney Film Festival are playing a huge part in the growing popularity of accessible cinema.
Audio described documentary, River of No
Return - Sydney Film Festival 2008.
Federal Minister announces 12 new accessible cinema venues
The Federal Government is providing funding for independent cinemas to purchase technology that enables captioning and audio description of films. On the 25 June, the Minister for Ageing, The Hon Justine Elliot MP, announced the Government will commit $350,000 in one-off funding to expand access to the cinema. This funding will allow 12 cinemas to be fitted out with the DTS Cinema Subtitling System, including transmitters and headsets for audio description. Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes AM, congratulated the Minister for Ageing and commented, "This announcement will not only significantly improve the availability of captions in cinemas but will also introduce audio description for the first time. It will extend the service beyond the major exhibitor chains to include independents, making it more likely that Australians with a disability will at last be able to access Australian-produced films.”
Call out for aspiring filmmakers and actors of all abilities
Kino Sydney is calling for participants 18 years and over, of all backgrounds, abilities, skills and experience for Kino Kabaret UK, a series of filmmaking workshops, screenings and parties taking placeacross Sydney from 14 to 19 July 2008. Participants will team-up towrite, shoot and edit short films during 48-hour sessions concludingwith a screening and party. The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care and the City of Sydney are ensuring Kino Kabaret is accessible for people with a disability. Wheelchair taxis and Auslan interpretation will be available as needed. Participants will work inthe fully-accessible Kino Lab, fitted with cameras and editing stations, hosted by Metro Screen in Paddington Town Hall. Download an application form at www.kinosydney.com. For more information contact Karina Libbey tel: 02 9281 5608 or email karina@thefestivalists.com
Red Glow is of three Waratahs,
Susan Oxenham, 2008.
Art classes for people with low vision
Susan Oxenham, Western Sydney based artist, photographer and tutor has designed an art class for people with low vision. The class begins on 31 July 2008 from 10am to 12pm for eight weeks at Penrith Showground Pavilion. Cost: $164 plus materials approximately $10 to $15. People with low vision will learn new skills and explore a variety of media including tactile surfaces. Susan’s recent work Red Glow is of three Waratahs has been selected for inclusion in the 2009 large format Vision Australia calendar. “This image reflects something much deeper than first imagined. I think it is also about my own diminishing sight,” Susan commented. To enroll contact Nepean Community College on 02 47215368 by 28 July 2008. For more information contact Susan on 0414675526.
Mark Olive, Bundjalong man and acclaimed
Aboriginal chef
Auslan-interpreted events to celebrate NAIDOC week at Art Gallery of NSW
The Art Gallery of NSW is offering free Auslan interpreted events onWednesday 9 July to celebrate NAIDOC week. Celebrity chef Mark Olive (aka The Black olive), proud Bundjalong man, is Australia’s most acclaimed Aboriginal chef. He will feature at the Celebrity talk at 6.30 pm and demonstrate indigenous Australian cuisine. A guided tour of the exhibition Living black follows at 7.15 pm. This exhibition from the Gallery’s permanent collection reveals contemporary experiences of living black in 21st century Australia. Bookings are essential for both of these Auslan interpreted events. For more information or to book tel: 02 9225 1647 (voice) fax: 02 9225 1842 TTY 02 9225 1808 (Gallery hours) or email pp@ag.nsw.gov.au. Find out more about Accessible programs at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
APACA Conference 2008 puts access high on the agenda
The Australian Performing Arts Centres Association is presenting its 22nd annual conference, Creating Cultural Capital from 10 September to 11 September 2008 at the Adelaide Festival Centre, South Australia. Betty Siegel is among a number of industry keynote speakers presenting at the Conference. She will present information about access initiatives that have been undertaken across the United States. Betty is currently Director of Accessibility at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The Australian Performing Arts Centres Associationis the national network of performing arts centres, dedicated to the professional development and support of its membership whilst contributing to the development of the performing arts throughout Australia. To become a member of APACA or register for the conference go to www.apaca.com.au.
Sydney Community Foundation Grants
The Sydney Community Foundation is an independent, charitable community foundation that manages and distributes funds on behalf of individuals, families, companies and other charitable trusts to meet the needs of their community. The Foundation supports a variety of community-focused projects. Current priority areas include: youth at risk; young families; Indigenous and culturally diverse communities and the aged (particularly reducing isolation of older people and connecting them with others in the community). Grant applications are accepted throughout the year and projects that create social change and pioneer responses to community needs are favoured. For further informationcontact Sydney Community Foundation 02 9322 1320 or email enquiries@sydneycommunityfoundation.org.au.
Regional Focus
Recent ‘Speak Up’ forum in the South Coast
region
Accessible Arts visits regional NSW
Accessible Arts will be presenting ‘Speak Up’ Arts and Disability forums at Albury, Alstonville (Ballina), Armidale, Denilliquin, PortMacquarie and Wagga Wagga during July. “Participating in one of these inspiring sessions is a fantastic way of placing your issues and ideas for the future on the agenda of an Arts and Disability Action Strategy,” commented Alison McLaren, Audience Development Officer at Accessible Arts and forum facilitator. Some of the needs identified in regional forums so far include: greater affordability of arts opportunities; improving transport to arts venues and events; improving physical access to venues and events and increasing opportunities for training and employment in the arts sector. “If any of these issues resonate with you, please come along to a ‘Speak Up’ forum to ensure that your voice is heard”. Contact Alison McLaren tel: 02 9251 6499 (ext 6) or amclaren@aarts.net.au.
International Focus
Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability – Florida, United States
The Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD), is a professional network of more than 100 organizations in the United States, focused on expanding the breadth and scope of accessibility services and programming across the country. The John F Kennedy Centerfor the Performing Arts maintain the LEAD network. They also publish a quarterly newsletter for people with disabilities pursuing careers in the performing arts. The 2008 LEAD Conference from 21 to 24 August, will bring together a national network of American leaders vested increating and shaping the future of access for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the cultural arts. Conference highlights will include latest developments in accessible technologies for cultural environments, legal and compliance issues for cultural organizations and accommodating the growing senior population.
Feedback
We invite you to comment on any of the items in this month’s newsletter, share your experiences of attending any of the listed events or offer suggestions for future newsletter items. Email your feedback to info@aarts.net.au.
Send us your news
Contributions to the newsletter are welcome and encouraged. Please send us your item by the 15th of the month, for the following month’s edition. Listings should include the title, date, location, a short (100 word) description plus all available contact details, access details and an image (JPEG or GIF format). Artsevents, opportunities or news that will be of interest to people with disabilities, their families, friends and carers and are accessible will be published. Email contributions to: info@aarts.net.au.