ATAGs are regular FREE meetups and networking events for workers in creative and cultural industries in NSW and the ACT who want to learn more about including people with disability in their professional practice.

Our ATAG program is a key part of our industry education activities which are aimed at helping arts companies, cultural organisations and festival/event producers improve the accessibility of their programming, services and infrastructure.

• Up to 8 ATAGs are held every year in Sydney, Canberra and regional NSW
• Up to 100 participants attend each meeting
• ATAGs are usually held as breakfast events from 8am – 10am with FREE light refreshments provided
• ATAGs are hosted by partner organisations such as Sydney Opera House, National Gallery of Australia, and the Australian Film, TV and Radio School.
• Each ATAG has a dedicated theme and includes a one-hour presentation and panel discussion followed by networking over light refreshments
• ATAGs are attended by a diverse range of arts workers from leading cultural institutions through to small independent operators. ATAGs are also attended by relevant policymakers from federal, state and local government.

Anyone is welcome to attend our ATAG events and join our ATAG community. If you’re interested in joining the network and coming along to the next meeting, or being featured as a case study or hosting a future meeting, please email info@aarts.net.au.

“The insightful presentations were a catalyst for conversation and the meet and greet after the talks were great. I’m looking forward to the next one!”

Laura Andrew, Education Officer
Sydney Symphony

 

Upcoming ATAG Events

 

Live-Streaming Accessible Events | ATAG Online 22 July

As a result of the COVID crisis, many cultural events – such as arts and screen festivals – are now being delivered online. This creates a whole range of issues in terms of access and participation for audience members who live with disability. PLATFORM Live was a fully accessible online multi-arts festival that was recently produced by Eastern Riverina Arts. The one-day event – which featured many of Australia’s leading artists and performers with disability – was supported by audio description, closed captions and Auslan interpretation. https://www.platformriverina.com/live. Join us for this FREE online panel discussion with members of the PLATFORM Live programming and technical teams as well as artists who performed at the festival as they discuss how they approached the complexities of streaming a fully accessible live online event using multiple content sources.

Past ATAG Events

2020

Arts, Disability & Technology | ATAG Online 17 June

Now more than ever, artists and institutions are looking to the web, digital devices, and innovative software to support their creative output and reach broader audiences. What will this mean for how art is both created and exhibited? Will technology expand professional opportunities for artists with disability? And will the tech solutions implemented by cultural organisations during the COVID crisis remain relevant in a post-COVID world? Join us for this FREE online panel discussion as we speak to UK artist, Jason Wilsher-Mills, whose transition from traditional to digital painting, and eventually augmented reality has brought recognition to his practice, leading ultimately to being awarded the 2020 Adam Reynolds prize in the UK. We also speak to witer and multimedia artist Michelle Roger and Susannah Thorne, Access Coordinator at Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.

Staying Accessible In A Rapidly Changing World | ATAG 19 May

The COVID-19 pandemic has turbo-charged the use of digital technology for both arts practitioners and audiences with disability, and that means it’s now more important than ever that arts and cultural organisations think about the accessibility of their online content and services. But what about post-COVID? Will everyone be more open to working, living and playing online? And what will this mean for creative industries in terms of connecting with people with disability? Join us for this FREE online panel discussion to find out how arts and cultural workers can use some basic approaches and simple tech solutions to be more inclusive of people with disability in the digital domain, both right now and into the future.

Digital Accessibility | ATAG Sydney 3 March

The rapid changes brought about by digital technologies is having a huge impact on how workers in arts, culture and events connect with and support people with disability, especially in the area of user experience (UX). 20% of Australians live with disability or are Deaf and this makes them a significant market segment, so improving how you engage with them through online platforms and digital technologies is a smart business development strategy. Join us for this FREE breakfast meetup to find out how the design and functionality of your digital assets can significantly increase how they’re accessed by people with disability.

2019

Showcasing Access To the Arts | ATAG Hunter 2 Dec

Around 20% of Australians live with disability. So making sure programming, services and infrastructure is accessible for people with disability or who are Deaf is a smart strategy for building audiences for performances, exhibitions and events. Join us for this FREE breakfast meetup on the eve of the International Day of People With Disability to explore how arts, culture and events workers who are part of the Independent Creative Alliance Newcastle (ICAN) are improving their access and inclusion frameworks for artists and audiences with disability.

Digital Accessibility | ATAG Canberra 13 Nov

The rapid changes brought about by digital technologies is having a huge impact on how workers in arts, culture and events connect with and support people with disability, especially in the area of user experience (UX). 20% of Australians live with disability or are Deaf and this makes them a significant market segment, so improving how you engage with them through online platforms and digital technologies is a smart business development strategy. Join us for this FREE breakfast meetup to find out how the design and functionality of your digital assets can significantly increase how they’re accessed by people with disability.

Making the Numbers Count | ATAG Sydney 12 Nov

For people working in arts, culture and events, the contemporary practice of data mining is having a huge impact on audience and policy development, especially in the areas of planning, programming, infrastructure and marketing. 20% of Australians live with disability and this makes them a significant market segment, so better understanding their needs through data analysis is an essential business opportunity. Join us for this FREE breakfast meetup to find out how you can be smarter with data when it comes to connecting with and providing services for people with disability.

Unpacking Access To the Arts | ATAG Lismore 22 Oct

Around 20% of Australians live with disability. So making sure programming, services and infrastructure is accessible for people with disability or who are Deaf is a smart strategy for building audiences for performances, exhibitions and events. Join us for this FREE breakfast seminar to explore how arts, culture and events workers in the Northern Rivers region are improving their access and inclusion frameworks for artists and audiences with disability. Light refreshments will be provided.

Reel Representation | ATAG Sydney Oct 15

Authentic representation has rapidly become an important cultural concern, including the representation of people with disability. This makes it a key issue for people working in cultural and creative industries, especially film, TV and advertising. Join us for this FREE breakfast seminar to consider how having people with disability on screen and behind the scenes can help improve how audiences and consumers engage with programming and content. A light breakfast will be supplied.

Accessible Cultural Tourism | ATAG Canberra 20 Sep

For people working in arts, culture and events, tourists and travellers comprise an important part of their audience. About 20% of people live with a disability and this makes them a significant market segment, so accommodating their needs is a smart audience development strategy. Join us for this FREE meet up and networking event to help you understand how to attract more visitors by improving the accessibility of your programming, services and infrastructure. You’ll also get to mix, mingle and network with representatives from Canberra’s arts, culture, tourism and events sectors. Light refreshments will be provided.

ATAG Newcastle | 17 July

Join us for a morning of interesting discussion around accessibility to festivals, events and functions in the Newcastle, Lower and Upper Hunter arts scene.

ATAG Canberra | 10 July 

This second Accessing The Arts Group meeting in Canberra for 2019 will be addressing the topic of Disability Inclusion Action Plans (DIAPs).  Accessible Arts will be talking with CraftACT about the development of their recent DIAP and how implementing it will make their organisation more inclusive and accessible to all.