Podcast Episode 5: Creative Partnerships and Pathways
Welcome to Episode 5 of the Access Ideas and Insights Podcast Series!
This episode spotlights the creative partnerships and pathways transforming opportunities for artists with disability or who are d/Deaf.
We’re joined by Alex Jones, Senior Manager of Access at the Sydney Opera House, who will share insights into groundbreaking programs that are opening doors and creating exciting career opportunities across the arts.
Plus learn from Jessica Olivieri, Artist and Co-Artistic Director of Urban Theatre Projects (Utp), about the role of collaboration and community in shaping bold new futures for artists.
Watch, Listen To or Read the Podcast
Episode 4: Creative Partnerships and Pathways
Watch the Auslan interpreted video with closed captions by clicking through to watch on YouTube:
You can also access the podcast via the links below:
- Listen on Sound Cloud
- Listen on Apple Podcasts
- Listen or watch on Spotify with open captions
Check out the Episode 5 Transcript and the Image Description Document which describes the artworks and images in the Auslan interpreted podcast video.
Podcast Guest Speakers
Alex Jones
Alex is a leader with more than 15 years of experience in corporate, government, and non-government roles. He is a dedicated advocate for changing societal attitudes towards people with disabilities and people who are Deaf or hard of hearing in Australia. A Co-founder of Ai-Media, a global captioning solution provider, Alex has been instrumental in enhancing accessibility. With a background in cultural event leadership, including the 2005 Melbourne Deaflympics Cultural Festival and 2018 Australian Deaf Games, he has been a longstanding ambassador for the NSW Don’t DIS my ABILITY campaign. Alex currently works at Sydney Opera House as a Senior Manager, Access in the Social Engagement and Impact Team. He continues to drive initiatives that empower individuals with disabilities, embodying his commitment to fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities.
Dr Jessica Olivieri
Dr Jessica Olivieri is current Co-Artistic Director of Utp Jessica’s experience of growing up in an intercultural environment, as well as ten years of house-bound chronic illness and dyslexia, have informed her commitment to intersectional access to the arts.
Podcast Host
Bedelia Lowrenčev
Bedelia (they/she) is a groovy disabled actor, dancer, singer, agitator, theatre maker, producer and Access Coordinator, living and working on Wategoro and Wangal Land. Bedelia frequently collaborates with their Deaf twin Jeremy, as facilitators and explorers of queerness, disability and deafness. Bedelia has a keen interest in communal care, story sovereignty, reciprocity and advocacy in their arts practice. In particular, challenging the western gaze on body, community and identity, and the reclamation of CALD queerness, and relation to land. Most recently, Bedelia acted in the new short film ‘With Love, Lottie’ which screened at FrameShift at the Sydney Opera House, and will screen at the 2025 Mardi Gras Film Festival. Previously, Bedelia acted with Bus Stop Films in ‘Screen Me’, Assistant Produced Raghav Handa’s THE ASSEMBLY at Campbelltown Arts Centre, performed SOFT PLACES at the Sydney Biennale, Griffin Studio Resident, and was Access Coordinator at Performance Space for Liveworks, and Co-Program Coordinator: Access at Sydney Fringe Festival. Currently, Bedelia is cracking into their disabled musical spenanza with Wear It Purple, is lead creative in the Move Series at the Art Gallery of NSW, and worked on the Ripple program with Accessible Arts as program coordinator for 2025.
This podcast is proudly produced by Accessible Arts, Arts Development Manager Amy Mills and Kiera Brew Kurec with sound design by Tralala Blip. Access consulting was provided by Macro Impact Consulting and our Advisory Group. We also thank our Auslan interpreters.
This podcast series is proudly supported by the City of Sydney and Create NSW, the principal funding partner of Accessible Arts.
Image description: Headshots of the podcast guest speakers Alex Jones and Dr Jessica Olivieri.
