Tutti is a multi arts organization with a focus on breaking down barriers, challenging preconceptions and boldly placing disabled visual and performing artists centre stage. We delight in originality and being a force for change through work which enriches, challenges and liberates audiences from the familiar. Tutti’s visual arts and new media program offers skills development to young adults with learning disability and is led by a team of professional arts workers. The program is also supported by skilled volunteers. Together we work to facilitate and develop artists’ individual interest areas, technical skills and general arts practice. The program aims to facilitate artist participation in the mainstream art community and encourage meaningful, artistic exchange between disabled and non-disabled artists. This exchange begins in the studio; many of our volunteers are artists within the community who work with our artists in sharing techniques and exchanging ideas.

Tutti’s visual arts program, started in late 2005 as a day options program, which ran for one day a week for five artists. In 2007 the program extended to two days a week. Since 2009 it has extended to four days a week with 23 artists participating on different days. The program grew from the existing Tutti ensemble (choir), where director Pat Rix saw a need and interest in other art forms.

Our studio supports artists who identify as having a learning disability. The age ranges from school leavers to age 30, however some of our artists are over 30.

23 artists access our studio over 4 days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday).

Artists should contact the General Manager Dorothy O’brien to organise a studio visit, meet our Visual Arts Coordinator and Lead Artist Patricia Wozniak, and consider the suitability of the program for the person. This is followed by a trial period and further assessment before an individual is offered a place in the program.

Through a combination of Day Option funding, self funding, an annual grant from Disability Services SA and funding from Arts SA and the Australia Council. Funding for specialist projects is sought through arts funding bodies, foundations, and fundraising events.

We seek arts workers who are professional artists in their fields, but also have experience and training in disability. We engage arts workers, who are passionate, inspiring and dedicated to the arts and disability.

As art diversifies, new media has become a key component of Visual Arts. Tutti Artist James Kurtze, self-confessed Tech-head, has had a phenomenal year exploring art and new media. Recent events have seen his work projected onto the sails of the Adelaide Festival Centre, and given him the opportunity to travel around the globe. In 2011 James won the Richard Lewellyn grant for emerging artists. This grant gave James a mentorship in animation and photography assisting further development of his work and travel to the U.S.A. James secured a second grant in 2011 to travel and present an Oska Bright award in the UK. While in Europe James spoke and presented his artwork at the Prague conference: ‘Conquering Public Spaces’. James was also invited to speak on the “Getting your work into the Mainstream” panel at the 2011 Oska Bright Film Festival.

1. Space

As our program expands, we are unable to take on many new artists. We are currently looking at ways to expand our services off campus and looking for new premises.

2. Resources for new media art

Many artists are using new media art, which can be costly in terms of materials and one on one training. We are looking at alternative funding sources, such as individual grants and mentorships.

3. Lack of resources to support high achieving artists

Lack of resources to support high achieving artists like James and others coming through who because of learning disability require significant assistance to apply for grants to develop their work and present it professionally. By developing relationships with local, interstate and overseas presenters and encouraging/supporting artists to do the same.

Our arts workers work with our artists one on one to develop their own interest areas. We provide opportunities for artists to exhibit their work in-group or solo exhibitions, as well as offer help with individual or group arts grants. We arrange promotional materials, for exhibitions, manage artist’s bio, statements and archival material for professional practice.

We are actively seeking larger premises, which will enable us to expand the day program and also offer short course after-hours and weekend workshops. As part of this we hope to establish our own exhibition space, which will open up presentation opportunities for disabled artists in our programs and other visual artists in the sector. We are beginning relationships with interstate and overseas exhibitors to increase opportunities for emerging disabled artists to present their work.