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Newsletter :: November 2007
Image: Western Sydney Outreach
Workshop participant
This month is bursting with news, events and opportunities that are sure to get you embracing the arts.
Accessible Arts News
Image: Morning Flight by artist Kelly Walker
AART.BOXX 2007
AART.BOXX is shaping up to be a powerful exhibition by young Australian artists under 25 with disability. The works selected from a nationwide call-out, aim to highlight the vision and creativity of emerging artists with a disability. AART.BOXX will be held at the Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House from the 21-22 November. The exhibition is FREE. All welcome! A public program of artists talks will be held on Wednesday November 21. For more information contact Josie Cavallaro on 8002 2353 (ext 3) or email: jcavallaro@aarts.net.au
'Rock Out!' on IDPWD
The Rockers, a five-piece band from Wollongong, formed in 2004 after completing a ‘Pathways to Music' program offered by the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music and the Wollongong City Council. They are now about to launch their demo CD and perform at Illawarra's premier independent music store, Music Farmers, on Saturday 1 December at 2pm. The Rockers form part of this year's dynamic statewide arts program for International day of People with a Disability. Accessible Arts have contributed a small grant to support this and other arts initiatives. Events range from a diversity of art forms including music, theatre, short films, printmaking and gallery exhibitions. These grants were made possible with financial assistance from the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC). For a full list of recipients go to Our Projects. The program of events for International Day of People with a Disability is available online www.internationaldayofpeoplewithadisability.com.au from November 5.
Visual Artists Studio Exhibition
Accessible Arts in partnership with Pine Street Creative Arts Centre has developed a visual artists studio project to offer a professional environment for artists with a disability. Pine Street Creative Arts Centre provides high quality, innovative and progressive arts and cultural programs that are accessible to all community members. For this pilot project, nine artists were selected and have been working under the guidance of Pine Street tutors. An exhibition of their work will open on Thursday 6 December 2007 at 3.30-5.30 and continue Friday - Saturday 10-4 pm. If you would like to attend the opening contact Sancha Donald at Accessible Arts ph: 02 9251 6499 (ext 6) or email: sdonald@aarts.net.au For more info go to our projects.
Image: Tess O'Brien, Alex White, Daniel Kojta,
Jen Teo
New Media as Accessible Art - Electrofringe 2007
New Media Arts and new technologies create new pathways for access and offer exciting new potential for people with disabilities to engage in the arts. These ideas were explored by the New Media as Accessible Art panel at Electrofringe 2007, Newcastle. Jennifer Teo (Accessible Arts, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator) set the context for the panel by providing an overview of disability. Alex White (Electrofringe Director) discussed the enormous potential for new media and electronic arts in the field of accessibility, highlighting that multimedia works in their nature are multi-sensory, immediately broadening audience access. Daniel Kojta (New Media Artist) spoke about his experiences as an artist and his perspective on disability as it relates to his personal identity and art works. Tess O'Brien (Australian Signing Choir) delivered an inspirational presentation and spoke about the experience of music for a person who is deaf. Over the past 4 years Tess has been involved in the development of a computer program specifically designed "to teach deaf children to sing with their hearing peers". Tess ended the presentation by providing a practical demonstration on ‘learning how to sing through vibration' with a group of people from the audience. For a full panel summary visit the Western Sydney Blog. An audio recording of the panel is available to stream online and download.
Apprenticeship Training Program
The Apprenticeship Training Program (ATP) has begun! We received more applications for the course than there were spots. The lucky 13 participants arrived on Tuesday October 16 at Parramatta Riverside Theatre to begin their training on how to be a crew member for theatre, productions and events. Don Jones a highly experienced industry professional from Julius Media is trainer for the course and is keen to see how the participants will develop their skills in lighting, sound and multimedia set up and operation, over the 30 weeks of the course. Stay tuned for further updates as this unique course unfolds!
Further information on the ATP can be found on the Western Sydney Blog or contact Alison Richardson ph: 9251 6499 (ext 112) or email: arichardson@aarts.net.au
Image: Daniella Turrin, Archi Tekton, Sculpture
by the Sea,Bondi 2006. Photo Louise Beaumont.
Audience Development Tip
Festivals and arts events across NSW are increasingly working towards accessible audience experiences. This year's Sculpture by the Sea exhibition at Bondi, is Australia's largest annual outdoor free to the public display of sculpture. It has catered for the unique needs of audience members through an education program. This event is running from 1-18 November and group bookings are already fully booked. For more information about Sculpture by the Sea, visit: www.sculpturebythesea.com. If you want to increase access to your festival, contact Alison McLaren ph: 02 9251 6499 or email: amclaren@aarts.net.au
Image: Jacqui O'Reilly
Staff movements
We are happy to welcome Jacqui O'Reilly to our team, who has been appointed as Administration Officer and will be able to help you with any enquiries or information. With a background in music and community events participation, she will also assist Josie Cavallaro with upcoming arts projects. Katy Mercer, our Training Officer is leaving us to work full time in her consultancy business. Katy developed and coordinated the Arts Activated Conference held earlier this month and we thank her for contributing extensively to the success of the conference. She has also greatly contributed to re-engaging major arts organizations in the training of disability awareness and access. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors. We are also looking forward to receiving news from Nadia de Ceglie, our Information Officer, who is on six months maternity leave and expecting a baby early this month.
Sector News
Local Government Cultural Awards to include Accessibility
The Annual Local Government Cultural Awards recognise exemplary cultural development by NSW Councils. Accessible Arts in partnership with the Local Government Association of NSW and the Shires Association of NSW have established a new Accessible Arts Cultural Award. All entrants for Cultural Awards will be asked to include information on how people with disabilities are included in their projects. The entrant that best delivers a high level of access for people with disabilities will gain the Accessible Arts Award. For more information on Cultural Awards go to www.lgsa-plus.net.au/CulturalAwards
Image: "Who Loves the Sun" starring
Lukas Haas, Adam Scott and Molly Parker
First Fully Accessible Screening at Sydney's Canadian Film Festival
The award-winning Canadian film WHO LOVES THE SUN will have its Australian premiere as part of the celebrations for International Day of People with a Disability on 3 December at Chauvel Cinema, Paddington, 6.30 pm (doors open 6.00 pm). The screening is co-presented by the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care and will be audio described for the vision impaired and fully captioned for the hearing impaired. Rows of seats will be removed for wheelchair users. Artistic Director Mathieu Ravier explains "accessible screenings or events which promote full inclusion demonstrate how easy it can be to make cultural life accessible to everyone". Tickets on sale 5 November. Bookings online at www.chauvel.net.au or at box office on the day. Enquiries ph: 02 9281 5608 or visit www.possibleworlds.net.au
Sydney Theatre Company Season 2008
Sydney Theatre Company has continued their proactive approach to accessibility by publishing a highly legible program booklet. They have released the program for their upcoming season in 2008 with Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton as Co-Artistic Directors in the New Year. This extensive program announces dates for performances that will be audio described, Auslan interpreted and captioned. The season begins with two captioned performances of "The Vertical Hour" by David Hare in February at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House. For more information about Sydney Theatre Company visit: www.sydneytheatre.com.au
"Focus on Ability" - Call Out for Artworks
Individual artists with a disability who live or attend an art centre/school in Ku-ring-gai are being invited to submit artwork for the "Focus on Ability" Art Exhibition. Artwork will be on public display during the months of December and January in two locations - Ku-ring-gai Council Chambers and Gordon Library. The closing date for submitting artwork is Monday 26 November. Artwork needs to be framed and ready for mounting on the wall and include a card with name of artist, name of piece, short description, contact details and if for sale, the price. The exhibition will be officially launched by the Mayor Nick Ebbeck at 5.30 pm on Monday 3 December 2007 at Level 4 of the Ku-ring-gai Council Chambers. All welcome. For more info contact Martin Butcher ph: 9242 0836 or email: mbutcher@kmc.nsw.gov.au
Sydney Dance Company Integrated Classes
A dance class for people with or without a disability, to experience free creative expression, movement and instructed dance routines. The focus is on ability and fun, with the opportunity to be involved in a performance night on December 14, 2007. Integrated Dance classes are taught by a professional dancer and are run by the Sydney Dance Company Dance Studios. Classes are casual - there is no need to book or enrol for a set length of time. Sundays 12.00-1.45pm. $18.00 per class or 10 class pass $150 or $140 concession. Held at Accessible Arts Training Room, The Wharf, Pier 4, Hickson Rd, The Rocks. Half way down Pier 4 from Sydney Dance Company. Contact Sydney Dance Company ph: (02) 9258 4813 or email: yumi@wellnessnetwork.com.au Wheelchair accessible venue, wheelchair accessible toilets.
Regional Focus
Publish your ‘story' to include regional arts and disability projects too!
Regional Arts Australia and the Australia Council are producing a book that will highlight the most creative arts and artistic events happening in regional Australia. This new volume will build on the success of earlier publications The Great Yarn Event (1998) and Heartwork (2004), which provide a permanent reminder of the powerful role of the arts in the heart of regional Australia. Contribute your story and photographs and be included in this new book, which will be distributed across Australia to government, community and arts leaders, as well as the media, artists, arts workers and libraries. Download a submission form and information pack at www.regionalarts.com.au then click on Great Art Stories: A New Book. Submissions must be received by 5.00pm, Friday 23 November 2007.
International Focus
From Exclusion to Equality
The United Nations have released a handbook on the rights of people with a disability in relation to the new Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol. The handbook is titled From Exclusion to Equality: Realizing the rights of persons with disabilities. Accessible Arts has a copy available in our library. Please contact Alison McLaren, Audience Development Officer to arrange to lend a hard or soft copy, ph: 02 9251 6499 (ext. 4) or email: amclaren@aarts.net.au.