Making Performing Arts Venues Accessible to All

Accessible Arts (AA) is the peak arts and disability organisation across New South Wales.

AA promotes and provides opportunities for people with disability to participate in arts and cultural activities either as audience members; through attending galleries, theatres, museums and festivals; or as participants in art, drama, music, dance and multimedia activities; and by developing as professional artists.

AA has produced a great resource for performing arts venues to use in considering how to make their venues accessible to all in the community, including people with a disability.

The areas of consideration include: 

• Improving access to venues
• Marketing and Publication to the disability sector
• Training performing arts venue staff
• Anti-discrimination legislation compliance for venues

 

To find out more information visit: www.aarts.net.au/audience-development/access-to-performing-arts-venues

 

 

 

 

Inclusive Arts

Here's a couple of great organisations doing some amazing work in inclusive arts. By inclusive arts we mean it's for everybody - not just a program or project which is disability specific.


Shopfront is a contemporary arts centre – a cultural network and production co-operative where all young people under 25, regardless of background or ability can create themselves.

Below is a great dance piece they have produced called Zombie vs Bird: 

http://vimeo.com/54807532

Zombie vs Bird is an examination of the conflicts that arise at home and in the schoolyard, set within the rules and boundaries of a computer game.
 

Image courtesy of theinterviewer.com.au

Another great organisation doing some cool stuff is Bus Stop Films. Bus Stop Films has a focus on creating inclusion within the film industry. So far Bus Stop has been involved with creating three inclusive films, that have been screened both nationally and internationally, these films have also picked up a number of awards including the top gong at Tropfest 09.

People with mixed abilities fulfilled roles within the cast and crew of the films showcasing their talents and ability. The films also provided our participants the chance to be involved in film making at a professional standard.

Their latest work is a short film called The Interviewer, you can find out more about it at the film's website: http://www.theinterviewer.com.au.

Pretty cool don't you think? Have you come across any other companies / organisations doing great work in inclusive arts? Let us know!

First Flight Crew - Disability and Dance

Hi everyone,

I couldn't resist but to share this with you as I think it is quite an amazing and fabulous thing to recognise. The First Flight Crew are a group of hip hoppers with disability. The crew is made up of seven unique individuals with so much talent in all things entertainment. The crew picture themselves as representing people with disability whilst also showing off their hip hop skills to a wide public audience.

The group was formed in late 2008 by the Accessible Arts Creative Programs Coordinator, Alison Richardson and Club Wild. The offer of four workshops grew to two fabulous tracks of dance with an accompanying music video clip. The tracks included 'The Wild Ones' and 'Music Makes Me Happy'.

After these great new performances the group were offered the opportunity to perform at the Beach Road Hotel as part of a hip hop night with interstate and international artists.

In 2009 most of the orginal group returned (with some newbies) to take part if a song creation workshop with Morganics, creating their first original song called Funky Guitar Style Noises. The Group, then called the Funkeze is now called the First Flight Crew.

They have some fabulous videos and great bios on the group members on their website.

What I love about this group is the fact that these individuals have not been limited by their disability and have really shown the world what they are made of through creative dance and entertainment. Their story is all about overcoming a challenge but at the same time representing people with disability in creative arts.

I always keep my eyes peeled for amazing stories of individuals and groups. If I've missed anything that should be mentioned or you have a story to tell, let me know! It helps to share your experiences because you will find that they are shared by many. Email prmedia@ideas.org.au to share your story on the blog.