Access & Heritage Project
Removing the Obstacles
Many arts organisations are located in heritage buildings. It is often presumed that heritage legislation limits capacity to incorporate accessible design into heritage spaces. As the peak arts and disability organisation for NSW, Accessible Arts believes that it is important to investigate the relationship between access (disability discrimination) and heritage through both legal and practical research.
Part One: Legal Research
Removing the Obstacles has two parts. Part One consists of research that investigates the correlation between state, federal and international legal frameworks. Questions that have been raised throughout this research are:
- Do heritage laws limit the capacity for arts organisations to provide access for audiences, artists, arts workers and volunteers with a disability?
- Is there a need for law reform in Australia?
- Is there a need to lobby for change?
Research findings and response to these questions will be provided in the form of a report that will include a variety of recommendations. Recommendations for law reform and the development of a lobbying strategy were discussed between panellists and audience members at a Sydney Arts Law Week session in 2008. The panel included Rosemary Kayess, Chair of the Disability Discrimination Legal Centre and Removing the Obstacle authors Carmen Siu and Courtney Weller. Siu and Weller will gain further insight into current perspectives when their initial research is presented at Melbourne Arts Law Week 2008.
Part Two: Practical Examples
Part Two of this project will engage an architectural firm on a pro bono basis to investigate best practice examples of how accessible design can be incorporated into heritage arts spaces. Examples will be taken from large and smaller arts organisations located in NSW, Australia and internationally. The aim of this project is to dispel any myths about the relationship between access and heritage and clarify pathways to accessible arts spaces that maintain historical significance and heritage value.
This research will have a great impact upon community perceptions of the need for and importance of accessible design.
Project Partners & Contributors
Accessible Arts has been grateful for the positive response and support provided by the Arts Law Centre of Australia as the initial and long-standing partner for this project. Invaluable support for Removing the Obstacles has also been provided by project partners University of Technology Sydney Shopfront Community Program and Arts Access Australia. Further expertise and input has been provided by a range of stakeholders including the Disability Discrimination Legal Centre for NSW, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, academics and arts patrons with a disability.
Get Involved
If you have examples of accessible heritage arts spaces or would like to get involved, please contact Alison McLaren. This project is a work in progress and Accessible Arts values momentum that is gained through active participation.
Further Information
To find out more information, please do not hesitate to contact Alison McLaren, Audience Development Officer, Accessible Arts by phone (02 9251 6499 extension 6) or email (amclaren@aarts.net.au).