An exceptional disability arts leader has been appointed to establish Arts and Disability Network Australia (ADNA) — a landmark national initiative to drive greater inclusion, representation and leadership of Deaf and disabled people in the arts across the country.

ADNA is a national consortium of all state and territory peak bodies for arts and disability, coming together with a shared vision for a more inclusive and equitable creative sector. ADNA will drive national collaboration, amplify the work of disabled artists and arts workers, and embed access and disability leadership across the cultural landscape, collaborating with partners and stakeholders across all states and territories to elevate the voices, talents and experiences of Deaf and disabled artists.

In a major appointment, Sarah-Mace Dennis has been named as the inaugural National Director of ADNA. An interdisciplinary creative leader with two decades of international experience in the arts, education, screen and community engagement sectors, Sarah brings a powerful combination of artistic innovation, academic insight and lived experience of disability to the role.

Sarah’s leadership is deeply informed by her personal journey following a traumatic brain injury, which led her to re-learn how to walk — and eventually dance — by listening to the sound of her feet. Her practice is grounded in inclusive methodologies and community storytelling, with a strong focus on who speaks, and for whom. From participatory digital works in urban spaces to mentoring disabled creatives on international campaigns, Sarah’s work challenges assumptions and expands perceptions of what’s possible in the creative sector.

Accessible Arts is thrilled to be part of Arts and Disability Network Australia, as we work together to create lasting, systemic change that elevates Deaf and disabled artists and arts workers across Australia. We are excited to contribute our expertise and passion, working together to build a more inclusive, equitable arts landscape for all.

ADNA is supported by Creative Australia as part of the federal government’s commitment to strengthening the arts and disability sector nationally. The Network will work to amplify the impact of disabled artists, advocate for systemic change, and embed accessibility and disability leadership at the heart of Australia’s creative future.

Sarah-Mace Dennis – National Director of ADNA

Sarah-Mace Dennis is an interdisciplinary creative leader, with two decades of experience working internationally across the arts, education, screen and community engagement sectors.

Interested in who speaks, and for whom, Sarah’s organisational approach combines action research and design futuring techniques to ensure that inclusive and accessible creative development approaches are embedded into every stage of program development. She has taught creative research and practice at Universities in Australia and the UK and collaborated with and mentored disabled creatives in the production of films, exhibitions and advertising campaigns for international festivals and brands. In 2022 she worked with disability-founded production agency ‘With Not For’ on HSBC’s digital accessibility campaign. From 2022-25 she was part of a majority disability-led board as trustee of world-renowned professional dance company Candoco.

Sarah has previously been commissioned to create participatory moving image works for cultural centres, libraries, cinemas and football stadiums in the UK and Australia. Her permanent projection work Moving Over the Shoreline — created in collaboration with multicultural performers and first nations dancers Nunukul Yuggera — won an ArtsHub Critics Choice Award (2012) and was celebrated for integrating community stories into public space. From 2005 – 2007 she was manager of the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum in Bathurst, having previously worked in arts and cultural development in Western Sydney.

Sarah’s commitment for working collectively to create accessible and inclusive creative futures is informed by her lived experience of severe traumatic brain injury. Her creative research on the relationship between the brain, narrative, ‘voice’ and identity has been performed/ presented/ exhibited internationally and published in books by Equinox (2016) & Routledge (2024). Mondo Ghillies (2010) — a dance film about the relationship between neurological function and perception — was commissioned by the Next Wave Festival, and exhibited in London, Berlin and at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei.

Image description: A headshot of ADNA National Director, Sarah-Mace Dennis. She has a short blonde crop and is wearing a red jacket and red lipstick.

ENDS.