In thinking about what to highlight in this occasional column I cannot go past the the strengthening of arts and disability in Australia as seen through the reception of both Scottish choreographer and dancer, Clair Cunningham and Australian-born but now Glasgow-based performance artist and choreographer, Caroline Bowditch.

The commitment of the Perth Festival to showcase work in a mainstream environment and the readiness of audiences in Sydney and elsewhere is a demonstration of the professional, original and creative work performed by artists with disability.

These performances have been followed by the inclusion of Studio A artists in Art Month Sydney, the programming of films featuring disability issues and/or actors with disability (On Richard’s Side, Down Under, Life Animated and Notes on Blindness) as part of the Sydney Film Festival and the Northern NSW electronic music five-piece band, Tralala Blip, performing at the opening of TEDxSydney at the Sydney Opera House.