The world currently presented on many mainstream stages and airwaves doesn’t reflect the true diversity of the Australian musical community.

While venues, festivals and industry employers are committed to enhancing access and inclusion, many don’t know where to begin. Our disability-led Music Access and Inclusion Masterclass program has been developed to bridge this gap through building disability confidence.

This expert training has been designed to upskill artists, employers, venues and festivals to better understand and respond to access requirements. Discover practical solutions for existing barriers and increase representation of musicians with disability at festivals, gigs and on air.

This exciting Masterclass program comprises two dedicated workshops for industry professionals both with and without disability.

FREE workshops – bookings essential.

Please note places are strictly limited so we recommend you book early. 

Masterclass for Music Practitioners with Disability or who are d/Deaf

This course has been expertly designed to boost confidence through gaining practical knowledge about navigating the music industry. Learn about your rights and responsibilities and how to effectively communicate access requirements.

The course will include:

• The social model of disability (including guidance on appropriate language and etiquette)
• When should you disclose disability?
• Identifying and implementing reasonable adjustments
• How to write and submit an access rider
• How to confidently and effectively communicate access requirements
• Getting started in the music industry
• Where and how to access support if needed

Book Now

Click on the below dates to book into the sessions:

Tuesday 8 April
1pm – 2.30pm
The Arts Exchange, 10 Hickson Road, The Rocks

Thursday 10 April
1pm – 2.30pm
Online

Masterclass for Industry (General Industry and Employers)

This disability-led training has been expertly designed to upskill employers, venues and festivals in better understanding and responding to access requirements through providing practical knowledge and building disability confidence.

Learn about the social model of disability, the language and etiquette of disability, creating an inclusive workplace and where and how to access advice.

The course will include:

• The social model of disability
• Language and etiquette
• What access riders are and how to use them
• Creating an inclusive workplace
• Where and how to access further support

Book Now

Click on the below dates to book into the sessions:

Tuesday 13 May
1pm – 2.30pm
The Arts Exchange, 10 Hickson Road, The Rocks

Thursday 15 May
1pm – 2.30pm
Online

Access

Closed captioning and Auslan interpreting are available for these Masterclasses upon request. You can request these services during the booking process. Please note that we require at least 4 working days’ notice.

About the Course Facilitator

Dan Pash is a small ‘d’ deaf musician and academic. He was a founding member of the band Leader Cheetah, whose debut album (‘The Sunspot Letters’) was a triple J feature album upon its release and was longlisted for the Australian Music Prize. In addition, the band performed multiple times at festivals such as Splendour in the Grass and the Big Day Out, and toured with international bands such as Interpol, Dinosaur Jr, Blonde Redhead, Elbow and Dan Auerbach (the Black Keys).

In part due to Dan’s deafness, Leader Cheetah ended in 2013. Having moved to Sydney in 2012, Dan’s next musical project, Reality Instructors, was created to explore the possibility of writing, recording and performing music while being almost totally deaf. In the last few years, the band has released two albums, the second of which was made possible via funding from Accessible Arts’ Sound On initiative.

Dan is a passionate advocate for creating greater opportunities for musicians who identify as d/Deaf or disabled and has appeared on various podcasts and radio programs as a way of furthering the important conversation surrounding these issues. In addition, he recently underwent cochlear implant surgery and is now exploring the musical possibilities that such technology might afford.

Dan completed a PhD in 2020 and was an Anderson Research Fellow in the Philosophy department at the University of Sydney.

If you have any questions or need help with making a booking, contact us at info@aarts.net.au or call on (02) 9251 6499.

This initiative is funded by Sound NSW with support from MusicNSW.

ENDS

Image Description: A graphic of a hot pink music speaker on a dark background. Overlay text reads: Accessible Arts Music Access and Inclusion Masterclass.