Arts Access Australia
Annual Report
for 1 July 2003 – 30 June 2004 (Part 1)
Tim Sharp, Laser Beak Man in China Town, New York,
USA
www.laserbeakman.com
Tim Sharp, Laser Beak Man at Bob's Burger Buffet, Washington
D.C., USA
www.laserbeakman.com
Tim Sharp was the only young Australian represented at
the International VSA Arts Festival in Washington D.C. The VSA Arts Festival
is the world's largest celebration of arts and disability.
Arts Access Australia Members
Arts Access Australia is:
Arts Access Australia
C/O Accessible Arts
Pier 4, The Wharf Hickson Rd
Walsh Bay NSW 2000
tel 02 9251 6844 fax 02 9251 6422
www.artsaccessaustralia.org
Accessible Arts
Pier 4, The Wharf
Hickson Rd
Walsh Bay NSW 2000
tel 02 9251 6499 fax 02 9251 6422
www.aarts.net.au
DADAA WA
arts@dadaawa.asn.au
21 Beach St
PO Box 1080
Fremantle WA 6160
tel 08 9430 6616 fax 08 9336 4008
Arts Access
24 Eastern Rd
South Melbourne VIC 3205
tel 03 9699 8299 fax 03 9699 8868
TTY 03 9699 7636
www.artsaccess.com.au
Arts Ability ACT Officers
(previously: Disability and Disadvantage Arts Officers)
DDAO@artsrec.org.au
Level 1 North building, 180 London Circuit
Canberra ACT 2601
PO Box 992
Civic Square ACT 2608
tel 02 6247 1882 fax 02 6247 8859
Arts in Action
101 Halifax St
Adelaide SA 5000
tel 08 8224 0799 fax 08 8224 0709
www.artsinaction.asn.au
Access Arts
PO Box 1034
Level 1 Stores Building
Brisbane Powerhouse
119 Lamington Drive
New Farm QLD 4005
tel 07 3358 6200 fax 07 3358 6211
www.accessarts.org.au
Arts Action
(previously: Arts R Access)
mtaylor@gcc.tas.gov.au
C/- Moonah Arts Centre
65 Hopkin St
Moonah TAS 7009
tel 03 6214 7633
Arts Access Central Australia
(previously: Mapping New Territory Committee)
monikam@bigpond.net.au
C/ - InCite Youth Arts
tel / fax 08 8952 6338
PO Box 3491
Alice Springs NT 0871
Arts Access Darwin
mail@brownsmart.com.au
Browns Mart Community Arts
Cnr Smith St and Harry Chan Ave
GPO Box 2429
Darwin NT 0801
tel 08 8981 5522 fax 08 8941 3222
Arts Access Australia Associate Members
The following organisations are Associate Members of Arts Access Australia:
Club Wild
www.clubwild.net/
Restless Dance Company
www.restlessdance.org/
Arts Project Australia
www.artsproject.org.au/
Back to Back Theatre
www.backtobacktheatre.com/
Power of Art Key To Inclusion (PAKTI)
C/- Integrated Youth Services (IYS), PO Box 192
Mooloolaba Queensland 4557
Telephone: 07 5441 7087
The Awakenings Festival
www.awakenings.horsham.net.au/
Karingallery
www.karingal.org.au/services/Community_Living/default.asp
Junction House Inc
http://home.iprimus.com.au/junctionhouse/
National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)
www.visualarts.net.au/home/default.asp
International Affiliates
Arts Access Aotearoa (New Zealand)
www.artsaccess.org.nz/
VSA Arts (USA)
www.vsarts.org/
Arts Access Australia - Executive Director's report
Arts Access Australia began the year as the Disability and Disadvantage
in the Arts Australia (DADAA) National Network. The name change came out
of a strategic planning process that will see the organisation keep the
core strength of the network while becoming more outward looking in focus.
Changing our name to Arts Access Australia, with a new logo:
- explains and describes what we do
- keeps a strong link with the disability sector through the word 'Access'
- strengthens the relationship with our State members as 5 of the 7
are called
'Access Arts' or variations like 'Accessible Arts'
- makes a link with the New Zealand organisation 'Arts Access Aotearoa'
which has some similar aims to us
Feedback from stakeholders, consumers and funding bodies indicates general
agreement that the change is positive and represents the next stage in
development for the Network.
Our new web address is www.artsaccessaustralia.org
From the strategic planning process Arts Access Australia's new Goal
areas are;
- Build the capacity of Arts Access Australia to be an effective peak
body
- Take a leadership role in brokering nationally significant culture,
arts and health
partnerships that increase access and participation for the 1 in 5 Australians
with a
disability
- Demonstrate the importance of cultural activity for people with disabilities
as a tool for positive social change.
The network held its annual Face to Face meeting in Sydney in March at
the Australia Council offices and continued to support the development
of arts and disability networks in both Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
A new Tasmanian committee has been formed with representatives from both
the North and South of the State. Two funding applications were submitted
in addition to continuing the strong partnership with Tasmanian Regional
Arts in developing a network. There is strong interest in the arts from
Tasmanians with disabilities and an effective advocacy and networking
body will be vital to make the arts more accessible for all Tasmanians.
In the Northern Territory arts and disability committees are active in
both Alice Springs and Darwin. An outcome of Arts Access Australia's August
2003 visit to the NT is a new three-year funding agreement with Darwin
City Council for Arts Access Darwin. This funding is the first step on
the way to sustainable arts activities for people with disabilities in
Darwin. In Alice Springs I was able to attend the final performance of
the Mapping New Territory arts and disability project and visit Mwerre
Anthurre / Bindi Centa Arts, a Family and Community Services supported
arts and disability studio, whose work was on display in both the Desert
Mob exhibition in Alice and the Telstra Awards in Darwin.
Arts Access Australia completed a five-year Disability Action Plan aligned
with our new strategic plan and this has been lodged with the Human Rights
and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) and can be seen on their website.
As part of the Plan Arts Access Australia's State and Territory members
have agreed to develop their own Disability Action Plans.
The strength and benefits of being a national network were demonstrated
in a July 2003 meeting between Kiersten Fishburn Audience Development
Officer for Accessible Arts NSW, Fiona Hanrahan Access Program Manager
for Arts Access VIC and Arts Access Australia. The exchange of information
and identification of issues lead to a successful proposal for $50,000
to the Audience and Market Development Division of the Australia Council
for a national research project that aims to;
- Identify arts organizations and programs of support in Australia for
increasing access
- Identify real and perceived barriers to increasing access to cultural
participation by people with disabilities
- Identify best practice and gaps to develop effective strategies for
organizations to increase access
- Identify international models that can stimulate new approaches to
access
- Improve coordination and identify existing resources that can have
national application and exchange
The Making the Journey publication, due for launch in late 2005,
made solid progress with the appointment of Mary Hutchison as writer.
Mary will be writing the dozen arts and disability case studies based
on interviews and information supplied by organisations featured in the
publication.
Arts Access Australia attended an Artspeak meeting coordinated by the
Australia Council. Artspeak is a meeting of key Australia Council national
clients where we are briefed on a range of current arts issues like public
liability insurance.
Arts Access Australia is a founding member of the Confederation for Humanities
Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) and met with a number of Federal Parliamentarians.
CHASS aims to play a key promotional and advocacy role for the Humanities,
Arts and Social Sciences sectors and will serve as a coordinating forum
for academics, students, business, and the broader community.
Arts Access Australia was invited to join the Sydney Arts Management
Advisory Group (SAMAG) and has since chaired a seminar on arts and business
working together. Arts Access Australia was also invited to join the Board
of Community Cultural Development NSW which is related to the three other
Community Art Networks in Australia.
Arts Access Australia was commissioned by Artwork Magazine to write an
article on the place of disability in arts, health and wellbeing. This
article was subsequently reproduced in the NICAN quarterly magazine, e-bility,
Artshub, the Arts Council of England e-news, the International Guild of
Disabled Artists and Performers (IGODAP) e-news and promoted in the International
Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) e-bulletin.
Arts Access Australia was subsequently invited to write a column 'Access
All Areas' for Artshub and the first column featured the International
Day of People With a Disability (3 December) cultural program for NSW.
Arts Access Australia's quarterly e-news continues to grow in popularity
with subscribers now numbering just over 2,000 individuals and organisations.
Working across Government Arts Access Australia was commissioned by Family
and Community Services to supply photos and interviews for a 2004 Arts
and Disability Calendar. The project was a great opportunity to profile
the work of Artists with disabilities in every State and Territory. Over
10,000 Calendar's were produced for distribution nationally following
a launch in Canberra on International Day 3 December. Arts Access Australia
was also fortunate to receive national conference funding from Family
and Community Services which enabled DADAA WA to further develop the ‘Building
Communities, Culture and Alliances’ conference held on 25 November
2003. The conference at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA)
was a great success attended by local and interstate delegates including
FaCS representatives. The conference lead to follow on activities for
target groups including remote Indigenous communities.
Internationally Arts Access Australia developed strong relationships
with affiliated organisations and worked to promote Australian artists
with a disability and Australian arts and disability practice. Arts Access
Australia met with Arts Access Aotearoa in Wellington New Zealand as part
of the ongoing exchange of information and practice between our two organisations.
Courtesy of Cosmos Recreation in Hobart Arts Access Australia has made
contact with disability organisations in East Timor running arts programs
and plan to develop this link further next year.
In the USA the, once every five years, VSA Arts Festival and Conference
took place in June in Washington D.C.. Arts Access Australia, as the VSA
representative in Australia, made five conference registrations totalling
$10,000 USD available to Australian artists with disabilities and provided
additional advice and assistance to those attending the event. ABC TV's
Australian Story program followed the journey of 15 year old
Tim Sharp from Brisbane as he and his family prepared for their first
trip overseas so Tim could participate in the Festival and exhibit his
artwork featuring his laser beak man character. Particular thanks to Ron
Ramsey at the Australian Embassy in Washington for his assistance and
liaising locally with the Sharps, the ABC and VSA Arts. This episode of
Australian Story has since won the 2005 Queensland Disability
Action Week Media Award.
June 2004 also saw Arts Access Australia presenting at the third International
Arts and Health Conference in Dublin, Ireland and visiting arts and disability
organisations in London and Singapore. The conference paper presented
in Ireland was on Arts and Mental Health and featured the FREIGHT Gallery
of DADAA WA and the Arts on Fire project from Access Arts QLD. Both projects
have demonstrated a wide range of positive outcomes from improved self-care
to employment and small business development for artists with a mental
health condition. Thanks to the Community Cultural Development Board of
the Australia Council for making this trip possible.
Other significant thanks go to Melinda Collie-Holmes for stepping in
to backfill the Executive Director position while I was away and Accessible
Arts for continuing to host the Arts Access Australia position in their
office. During the year Arts Access Australia also gratefully secured
Pro Bono services from Clayton Utz on obtaining Public Benevolent Institution
status with the Australian Tax Office, Freehills on our name change and
insurance issues and Hoholt Consulting did our auditing. The dollar value
of these Pro Bono services is significant and something Arts Access Australia
could not afford on a commercial basis. All three providers have ensured
Arts Access Australia is able to maintain high standards of governance
and accountability.
The year ended on a bright note with a successful Triennial application
to the Australia Council, including a slight increase in core funding,
making Arts Access Australia's future more stable. In my 15 months in
this job I have now visited every State and Territory head office and
look forward to developing the work we do by, with and for people with
disabilities and all Australians in increasing access to and participation
in the arts over the coming years.
Gareth Wreford
Executive Director
Arts Access Australia - Chairperson's report
Arts Access Australia continues to provide the primary conduit though
which stakeholders in Arts and Disability across the country can engage
in sector development through:
- Advocacy and information;
- Promotion;
- Research;
- Grass roots brokering and support of emergent cells of Arts and Disability
practices across the country.
Over the three years of my Chairmanship I have witnessed a significant
move towards cross State / Territory collaboration, increased resource
sharing between the State based Peak Arts and Disability organizations
combined with a gradual widening of Arts Access Australia’s scope
of operation.
Driving much of the thinking behind the work of the peak Arts and Disability
organizations in Australia over this period has been the strong emphasis
on Arts Health and Well being within the Community Cultural Development
Board of the Australia Council for the Arts, that is now filtering across
Government rapidly influencing Policy development within the Arts, Health,
Disability and Mental Health sectors.
The growing prevalence of Arts, Health and Well being has strengthen
the position of the Arts and Disability sector, validating the social
and human impact of the work, stemming out of this has been a renewed
capacity across the Arts and Disability sector to apply the practices
of Arts and Disability within new sectors, including rural / remote, indigenous,
Ageing and Disability.
Against the background of increased sector development and demand, Arts
Access Australia has experienced an internal drift of expertise, knowledge
and passion with the departure of key drivers within the field Neal Price
previously Executive Director Access Arts QLD and Helen Connors previously
Executive Director Accessible Arts NSW.
Both Helen and Neal carry with them years of expertise, passion and commitment
to the Arts and Disability sector, I thank them for their capacity to
share their knowledge, advocate, lead and advise the sector.
Gareth Wreford Executive Director has backed the Network with great capacity,
underpinning sector development in Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
Operating solo Gareth provides the primary information and Advocacy programs
across the Country whilst maintaining close working links with the Australia
Council for the Arts, Family and Community Services and the supports the
requests for access to the arts from individual artists with disabilities
across the country.
Gareth continues to build the capacity of network and was the primary
driver during 2004 behind the re-naming of the network to Arts Access
Australia, positioning us in a more contemporary light, realizing the
shift away from a potentially segregated approach to inclusion in the
arts and cultural life of Australia.
In closing I thank my co-Directors who ensure a truly national voice
is reflected in the Governance of the Network.
I acknowledge the valuable support and advice provided to the Network
by staff of the Policy Communication Research Division of the Australia
Council for the Arts and thank them for their support over the years.
David Doyle
Chairperson
Arts Access Australia
DADAA WA Report
This will be my final report to you as the Executive Director of DADAA
WA. I will be stepping down from this position but remaining within the
organisation in a part time position to complete some projects and to
ensure a good handover to the new Executive Director. I have seen great
change in the 10 years that I have been involved with DADAA WA. Along
with our own development DADAA WA has supported the development of DADAA
National, now called Arts Access Australia, with both David Doyle and
myself Chairing the national body since incorporation in 1992.
DADAA WA is a small complex organisation which has developed in response
to need. It is driven by its values and as such has developed a culture
of working in the community, using and training practicing artists to
work with people with disabilities. The knowledge of what is possible
uses the creative talents of the 76 Artsworkers we employ over the year.
They have contributed to our unique culture that has seen the adaptation
of artistic processes to not only have arts product but also give people
with disabilities the opportunity to learn new skills and competencies
that underpin independence and self fulfilment.
It is this culture and vision that has laid the foundations for our new
Strategic Plan which was facilitated by Lynn Deering. The 2004 -2007 Strategic
Plan articulates DADAA’s role in facilitating arts/disability practice
within communities and our intent to share our knowledge and expertise
to assist the inclusion of people with disabilities in the community using
excellent arts practice. To achieve this aim we work with partners who
share these aspirations. We are fortunate to have Rio Tinto Futures Fund
WA to assist us in our work in the Western Desert.
Our project targeting people who are ageing with a disability has been
has been partnered in the training field by Challenger TAFE Centre for
Leadership and Community Development and the Accommodation Directorate
of the Disability Services Commission specifically the residential complexes
of Bennett Brook, Fairholme, and Pike Street in 2003-2004.
In acknowledging the work with partners, DADAA WA has had long and enduring
partnerships with Industryi Customised Training Solutions and RAPID. Russell
Thom of Industryi has partnered DADAA in the Western Desert project, accredited
arts training which was located in our Midland office and Fremantle, the
Freight Gallery project and in the future the First Click program. The
programs developed together have always been innovative and have pushed
the boundaries of training delivery to develop new ways of providing training
success to people with disabilities.
The RAPID Co-Ordinator Jane Donnelly and formerly Lessa King have worked
in conjunction with DADAA WA to support the FOCUS program developed for
people with persistent psychiatric disabilities. Additionally, Jane has
supported Maria Sorgiovanni with the Swan Friendship Club’s activities
facilitating pathways to integration working closely with DADAA which
undertook the administration of this Gordon Reid program. FOCUS, Industryi,
Rapid and the Swan Friendship Club are co-located in The Avenue Midland.
One of the most significant events of this year was our return to 21
Beach St. It was not without a great deal of negotiation with the City
of Fremantle in regard to extra work caused by pervious termite damage
and the building not meeting present building standards. The work of Peter
Jones in the design and refurbishment of the building needs to be acknowledged
along with the support of Bob Hewitt who assisted DADAA to achieve an
extended lease and loan from council to pay for the costs associated with
the termite damage and update of the building standards. The Fremantle
Creative Space now buzzes with programs and has located within the large
space, the Freight Gallery.
DADAA WA has skilled staff who provide program outcomes with a generosity
of spirit. We have seen the development of programs in Perth’s North
West corridor led by Marilyn Dreaver. In our programs for people who are
ageing with a disability Simone Flavelle has been a great advocate for
training, service development and the co-ordination of a very complex
program. She was able to talk about these achievements at the national
ACROD Conference on Ageing and Disability.
In our remote and regional development we have seen David Doyle, Arts
Program Manager gather resources and community stakeholders to provide
artistic outcomes that have seen the inclusion of people with disabilities
in the life of the communities of Bunbury, Albany and the Western Desert.
At the end of the Financial Year we have experienced the slow withdrawal
of two key staff Sarah Meecham and Graeme Northover. Together they have
developed the Financial System to a point where we can track income and
expenditure accurately. This administrative role is key to any effective
organisation and we will miss their input greatly. Gillian Bailey has
also gone to greener pastures at Notre Dame University as we could no
longer sustain the position of Receptionist.
My time as Executive Director has been challenging, always exciting and
exceptionally rewarding, no more so when we see the exhibitions of work,
hear the stories of change and see the development of artistic and personal
skills.
DADAA WA has a multi layered role to play within the WA community, in
the employment and development of artists, in assisting communities understand
and include people with disabilities in the cultural life of their community,
to work across government departments to provide services that utilise
the potential of people with disabilities in cultural activities that
provide recreation, professional development, friendships and personal
networks as well as providing meaningful respite to the individual and
their families.
Val Shiell
Executive Director
Arts Ability Officers ACT Report
(previously: ACT Disability and Disadvantage Arts Officer - DDAO)
The ACT Disability and Disadvantage Arts Officers Peter Hoyle and Sue
Riley are now employed by Arts Recreation and Training ACT, instead of
Disability and the Arts, Disadvantage and the Arts (DADA) ACT, following
an Arts ACT tender for all its funded Arts Officer positions. The changeover
process saw the departure of Arts Officer Susan Abbott and some of the
old DADA ACT Board now form an Arts Advisory Committee for the DDAO positions
with Arts Recreation and Training ACT.
The activities of the DDAO's are grouped as Advocacy and Networking,
Facilitation and Project Management, Mentoring and Administration.
Advocacy & Networking
The DDAOs met with ACT stakeholders to discuss partnerships and specific
projects including an exhibition by the Canberra Blind Society, developing
an Arts and Disability studio space in the ACT and forming a steering
committee to develop the idea of a Disability/Disadvantage Arts Festival
for the ACT as part of International Day 2004.
Facilitation and project management
The DDAO's provided assistance and advice to artists submitting grants
and planning projects.
Mentoring
The DDAO's worked with individual artists to improve their skills in
project management, planning, developing a portfolio, promotions and marketing,
grant preparation and enterprise development.
Administration
The DDAO advisory group has met regularly and worked on a three-year
plan for multi-year funding. The DDAO advisory group proposed changing
the current name to the ACT Arts Ability Officers. This change has since
been successfully approved.
Arts in Action SA – General Managers' Report
Arts in Action has seen a challenging and busy year, with the production
of another highly successful High Beam Festival, staffing changes, new
and exciting projects as well as the management of our successful ongoing
programs, including Club Contagious and the Pathways visual arts program.
Evolve High Beam 2004 ran from 3-9 May 2004 and for the first time was
complimented by a major two-day international conference, Ideas &
Innovations. Festival Artistic Director Susan Maley capably assisted by
Geoff Crowhurst, delivered a program offering 32 different events, once
again showcasing the extraordinary creative talents of artists whose work
is influenced by experiences of disability.
Total attendances at this year’s festival are conservatively estimated
at 14,000. 723 people participated in High Beam projects and 87 artists,
including 57 with a disability, worked on the festival.
The Ideas & Innovations conference was an outstanding success, with
attendances more than double the anticipated figures. Fourteen sessions
covered six conference strands, presented by nineteen delegates. The conference
featured seven interstate and six international presenters. Ideas &
Innovations offered a lively forum, stimulating critical debate and networking,
whilst increasing awareness of disability issues in the arts at a recreational,
educational, vocational and professional level, both in Australia and
internationally.
Other landmark projects from the year include the Big Country Choir and
the Silk Stories Touring Exhibition both having a focus in regional South
Australia. Arts in Action has taken an incubator role with the formation
of the Big Country Choir, with a long-term approach to making a viable,
sustainable and integrated regional community choir. The Choir performed
an original work “Evolve” in collaboration with the Tutti
Ensemble and Holdfast Bay Concert Band at High Beam this year. Silk Stories
merged two highly successful CCD projects, one of which (Silk Chandeliers
- a regional project of Arts in Action in 2002) people may remember from
the Hub of the 2002 High Beam Festival. These were toured in partnership
with Country Arts SA from July 2003 to January 2004 to seven regional
centres as well as the 2004 High Beam and Adelaide Fringe Festivals. This
was made possible by a Presentation and Promotion grant from the CCDB
of the Australia Council.
Deidre Williams worked in Arts in Action backfilling for General Manager
Jayne Boase whilst she was away on maternity leave in 2003. We were delighted
to have such a capable and skilful woman contribute to the organisation
during this time. Jayne maintained her role as Secretary of DADAA national,
and participated in all face to face and teleconference meetings throughout
this period. Susan Maley went on extended leave shortly after the completion
of High Beam, and resigned in September 2004 and returned to the United
States. Many thanks go to Susan for all her hard work during her tenure
as Artistic Program Director in Arts in Action.
Arts in Action benefits greatly from the reciprocal relationship with
Arts Access Australia, the networking, information sharing, advocacy and
advice. I am confidant that the strategic growth of this body and it’s
increased voice in advocacy will continue to support and nurture the vital
role of each of the State members and associate organisations. Increasing
people with experience of disability's (and disadvantage – in some
State’s), access to the arts – in all areas.
Jayne Boase
General Manager
Accessible Arts NSW – Board Report
Over the 2003/2004 period Accessible Arts underwent some significant
organisational changes, including a significant reduction in staff. This
has
meant that some of the proposed activities in the 2003/2004 period were
not
able to be undertaken as resources and staffing were not available. However,
the following strategic opportunities were developed.
The most significant of these was the national touring of ‘Intimate
Encounters’, auspiced by Accessible Arts and coordinated by the
Audience Development Officer (ADO).
Accessible Arts successfully applied to Visions of Australia for a touring
grant to take Intimate Encounters (Sexuality and Disability) around
Australia, with a particular emphasis on regional and rural Australia.
The
tour will run from 2004 – 2006. In the 2003/2004 period the exhibition
toured to:
- Alice Springs
- Katherine
- Darwin
- Bunbury
- Geraldton
The ADO has continued to work with organisations with whom Accessible
Arts
has an established relationship. In particular the ADO focused on larger
flagship organisations, as these organisations were better placed to develop
audience development strategies and act as benchmarks for the rest of
the
arts and cultural sectors. The organisations included;
- Sydney Opera House
- Art Gallery of NSW
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Sydney Theatre Company
- Museums and Galleries Foundation
- Sydney Festival
- Arts Out West
- Powerhouse Youth Theatre
- Penrith Regional Gallery and the Lewers Bequest
In addition Accessible Arts worked extensively with each of the organisations
involved in International Day of People with a Disability helping them
to:
- Develop their project or activity
- Market directly to the disability sector
- Provide suitable access and work in an inclusive manner
- Promote the involvement of people with disabilities
A report and series of recommendations regarding ticketing and seating
issues affecting people with disabilities accessing the performing arts
was
developed by the ADO.
Accessible Arts commissioned a report from Cheryle Yin Lo into the
development of a visual arts studio for people with disabilities. This
has
involved looking at a number of models of practice and has included
negotiations with Arts Project Australia (Melbourne, Vic) and Studio Artes
(Hornsby, NSW). The ADO has also worked extensively with the Department
of
Ageing, Disability and Home Care to secure their interest in and support
of
the studios concept.
Accessible Arts website was also redeveloped reflecting the restructure
recommendations - see http://www.aarts.net.au
Access Arts QLD – Executive Director's Report
Access Arts undertook a number of major projects during the year and
it was the last for long serving Executive Director Neal Price. Neal has
since received the Community Cultural Development Board $50,000 Ros Bower
Award in recognition of his unique qualities as an arts leader and lasting
contribution to the community cultural development field. Lesley McLennan
acted in Neal's position for the remainder of the year.
John Harvey returned as Indigenous Program Manager having worked at Access
Arts from 1997 - 9 and Access Arts successfully obtained funding for a
new bus from Jupiters Casino.
Project highlights included;
Asia Pacific Wataboshi Music Festival November 2003
The Wataboshi Festival took place at the Brisbane Powerhouse, the first
time the Festival has been held outside of Asia. Over eight days the Festival
showcased 424 artists from 14 countries. As a result of this success Access
Arts have been invited to be a presenter in the Non government Organisation
Village at the 2005 World Expo in Japan as a partner of the Japanese Tan-popo-No-Ye
foundation.
Princess Alexandra Hospital Art and Health Project
Access Arts will be working in partnership with the PA Hospital to deliver
arts and cultural programs at the new PA Hospital Mental Health Unit.
Access Arts will work with the hospital to establish two community arts
studios to support consumers of mental health services to play an active
role in developing links with their communities.
Brisbane Outsider Artists Studio launched March 2004
The Brisbane Outsider Artists Studio opened its doors on 1 March 2004
with artists creating work for exhibition and sale. The first exhibition
was held on 20 April and was well received with more planned for the coming
year.
Arts Action TAS Report
(previously: Arts R Access Tasmania)
A new Committee started to renew the Tasmanian arts and disability network
based around Hobart while maintaining important links with Launceston.
Supported by Arts Access Australia and Arts Access Victoria the Tasmanian
group has established a vital strategic and financial partnership with
Tasmanian Regional Arts. With this base Arts Action have applied for funding
from Arts Tasmania and the Tasmanian Community Fund with the support of
arts, government and disability stakeholders. Arts Action held its AGM
on 23 April and, with the assistance of the Australian Business Arts Foundation
advicebank service, secured a new Board member with marketing and finance
skills.
Arts Access Darwin Report
(previously: Darwin Arts and Disability Steering Committee - DADSC)
The DADSC had a busy year with its members coordinating arts and disability
activities through their own organisations in addition to supporting DADSC
events. With some funding remaining from a Northern Territory Health grant
in 2002 the Committee was able to continue employing Nicky Fearn on a
part time basis and coordinated disability awareness training for artsworkers.
An application to the Family and Community Services Stronger Families
and Communities program received no response.
Arts Access Australia visited Darwin in August 2003 to meet with the
Committee and other stakeholders. The resulting Darwin City Council grant
of $15,000, to be recieved as $5,000 for each of the next three years,
will provide some stability for DADSC. An additional idea to establish
an information and referral service will be developed further.
The DADSC agreed to host the Intimate Encounters exhibition with additional
support from Darwin City Council and Accessible Arts NSW. The exhibition
was opened at Top Coins gallery by the Chief Minister Claire Martin. Alongside
the exhibition the Aged and Disability Rights Team at Darwin Community
Legal Service organised a well recieved forum on disability and sexuality.
Alice Springs Mapping New Territory Committee Report
Now: Arts Access Central Australia
The Mapping New Territory project came to a close in September 2003 with
a final music performance as part of the Alice Springs Festival. Mapping
New Territory was funded and supported by Casa Central Australia Inc.,
Arts NT, the Australia Council for the Arts, Department of Health and
Community Services, Alice Springs Cultural Precinct, Alice Springs Town
Council, Central Australian Art Society, Territory Craft and Ltyente Apurte
Council. Over a six month period four artworkers mentored emerging artists
in four artforms and how to work with people with disabilities.
Arts Access Australia spent time in Alice Springs in August 2003 meeting
with the Committee and arts organisations and disability organisations
to discuss future plans. The Mapping New Territory project was large and
being project funded will be difficult to translate into sustainable activities
by people with disabilities. The Committee met in early 2004 and will
continue to review lessons learnt from the project and determine a way
forward for the following year.
For a history of Mapping New Territory see;
http://telemach.co.uk/Veronica2/index.htm
Arts Access VIC – Executive Director's Report
As Treasurer of Arts Access Australia, Nicole Beyer worked closely with
Gareth Wreford on improving financial monitoring and reporting, and she
and other Arts Access staff contributed to future directions of the network
at the annual conference in Sydney and at all of the teleconferences.
In addition, Ruth Whittingham was involved in the redevelopment of the
Arts Action organisation in Tasmania.
This year, there was a strengthened focus across the arts industry on
art and wellbeing, (with Ozco’s CCDB taking a lead by running planning
days for the sector, in Adelaide) and to us here in Victoria, in our 30th
year of operations, we feel that it’s so great that the current
environment supports and applauds this way of working.
It might be said that justifying art as a tool for social change works
against ‘art for art’s sake’ arguments, but at Arts
Access we have always argued that the social wellbeing role of art makes
better, more diverse and more thought provoking art. We reckon you can
have your art and eat it too.
So, increasingly this year, the Artistic Program has been about sustainability,
working with partners to enable them to take the torch and run with it,
working with local and community specific artists and project managers,
and strengthening our training and referral work so that we can improve
our role as Victoria’s primary peak body for community cultural
development.
The Access Program had a huge year, stretched to its limits, running
the EASE ticket service (more than 20,000 attendances), as well as two
major projects and dozens of small projects such as training sessions,
consultations, speaking invitations, and informal advice and referral
(12,000 by phone alone). Live Captioning is finally being introduced to
Australia via a partnership between Arts Access, the Australian Caption
Centre and Melbourne Theatre Company.
On an operational level, after 28 dedicated years, we farewelled Alan
Moor from the board and welcomed Jane Trengove to the position of Chair.
In line with the times, we now have a mostly part-time staff, due to a
boom in parenthood, and we have been able to capitalise on our experienced
team who have stayed with the organisation because of the flexible employment
practices. Board and staff worked hard on consultations, debate and planning,
leading up to a new plan for 2005-2007 which we are looking forward to
with gusto!
Many thanks to the rest of the Arts Access Australia network and particularly
to David and Gareth who are passionate, smart and so great to work with.
The state organisations benefit greatly from the information exchange,
shared projects, and the national advocacy that Arts Access Australia
provides.
Nicole Beyer
Executive Director
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