Arts Access Australia eNewsletterIssue #15 October 2003If you no longer wish to be subscribed to this e-newsletter then send an email with 'unsubscribe' in the subject heading to coord@dadaanat.net.au 1.1 Deaf Audiences at Melbourne International Arts FestivalArts Access, Deaf community, the Deaf Arts Network, Melbourne International Arts Festival and the Australian Caption Centre worked together to make this year's festival accessible to Deaf audiences. The result is a record number of Auslan sign-interpreted events at the Melbourne International Arts Festival. http://www.artsaccess.com.au/news/index.cfm?id=185 1.2 Asia Pacific Wataboshi Music Festival Brisbane 2003ACCESS ARTS is buzzing with excitement as it prepares to bring to life a spectacular festival. 16 - 23 November 2003 at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Artists from 12 Asia Pacific cities will join Australian artists to celebrate and showcase the lives and experiences of people with a disability. Tickets and information from Powerhouse Box Office: + 61 7 3358 8600 or www.brisbanepowerhouse.org. Information and bookings for Workshops and Creative Carers Forum: www.accessarts.org.au/wataboshi or + 61 7 3358 6200 1.3 24 / 7 Festival - November 16 - 30 December Perth WA24/7 is designed to provide artists with disabilities and their communities with a major platform to self advocate through the arts and to explore with audiences many of the hidden aspects of disability culture. Developed through strong collaborations with the professional artists and the communities around them, 24/7 is set to raise debate. 24/7 will take you inside to new places and talk to you in voices that never hear. For more information and program: 08 94306616 or email arts@dadaawa.asn.au 1.4 High Beam Festival Call for Artists' Expression of InterestIdeas and Innovations is a two day interactive program held as part of the High Beam Festival on May 6 and 7, 2004. It will examine some of the best Australian and international models of work in the arts expressing disability culture and the cultural and social impacts of these practices. It is a partnership between Arts in Action, the Flinders University Department of Disability Studies and the Community Arts Network of SA. Contact: highbeamfestival@artsinaction.asn.au 2.0 Government News2.1 Employment Opportunities LagThe employment of people with disabilities has made little progress in the decade since the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act, the Human Rights Commissioner Sev Ozdowski told ACROD's 2003 Employment Forum. Most disturbingly, he said, the public sector's employment of people with disabilities had actually declined. In 1993, 6 per cent of public servants had disabilities; by 2003 this had fallen to just 3.6 per cent. Full speech at: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/speeches/2003/acrod.htm 2.2 ANNAN pledges UN commitment to inclusive society for people disabilitiesNoting that more than 600 million people suffer some mental, physical or sensory impairment, Secretary-General Kofi Annan pledged dedication by the United Nations to making societies truly accessible, caring and inclusive for all people, regardless of disability. "The commitment of the United Nations to advance the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities is deeply rooted in the founding ideals of the Organization and in fundamental international human rights instruments," Mr. Annan said. He said disabled persons "face discrimination and marginalization, and are found disproportionately among the poorest strata of society. This is a challenge that should be a leading concern for all of us, since it affects not only disabled persons and their families, but also the economic and social development of entire societies." 3.0 Events and Opportunities Coming Up3.1 International Day of People with a DisabilityAccessible Arts (NSW) will launch its International Day program in early November. It will include a wide range of regional activities. Other States and Territories also have activities - for details contact the AAA Member in your State or NICAN http://www.nican.com.au/int_day/index.shtml 3.2 "Starry Eyed" by Restless Dance, Directed by Kat WorthStarry Eyed describes many of the members of the Restless youth ensemble. They are torn between their passionate desires for stardom and the reality of their shifts at factories, fast food outlets and part time work. Starry Eyed looks at definitions of success and explores the steps people choose to reach their goal as well as the chance happenings that can take them there anyway. Oct 10 -17 at the X Space 39 Light Square. Adelaide. Bookings via Restless: Phone 08 8212 8495 3.3 New Community Cultural Development Portal SiteA new arts and community capacity building site is available for any person or non profit organisation working in the arts and Community Cultural Development. Browse the site or login and create your own space on the site. You can load your text, images, wmv video, and sound files. Go to: http://www.onsite.org.au 3.4 "HORSE TO WATER" directed by Linsey PollakPAKTI presents a dynamic collaboration from a group of talented performers with unique abilities. Together they create a digitally sampled vocal soundscape weaving a path of communication from points of isolation to connection. Internationally renowned musician/composer Linsey Pollak is joined by PAKTI Directors Florence Teillet and Terri Delaney and fellow creators Glen Sheppard, Peter Rowe, Davina Wilson, Alice Clark and Ty Belnap. Nambour Civic Centre: Nov 15, Powerhouse, VisyTheatre: 21 November. 3.5 Picture this...Film FestivalOnce again this international film festival features filmand video works on disability and by film/video makers with a Disability. The festival takes place February 10 - 13, 2004 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Further information at: http://www.picturethisfestival.org/. 3.6 Arts Organisations Seeking Student PlacementsThere are around 80 arts organisations currently seeking students, and it's easy to apply. Just log into www.dramaticonline.com and click the 'Placements' option on the menu. 3.7 ACOSS Congress 2003The ACOSS Annual National Congress, in Canberra13/14 November. Theme: Piecing it Together: equity, empowerment & change. Great speakers - Hugh Mackay, Anne Summers, Rick Farley, Gregory Phillips, Kerrie Tim, Bruce Hawker, Jane Schwager, to name a few. Discounts for ACOSS members. Some funding available to assist low-income organisations and people with disabilities to attend - applications/inquiries to gill@acoss.org.au 4.0 New Resources4.1 Book Launch"Creative Solutions and Social Inclusion - Culture and the Community" by Penny Eames. Topics such as Culture and the environment, Social inclusion, arts and employment of time strategies, arts industry development are examined. The book is a comprehensive resource for people concerned with increasing the access to the arts for people on the margins. To order a copycontact the Arts Access Australia Director on 02 9251 6844 or coord@dadaanat.net.au. 4.2 Design for Accessibility: a Cultural Administrators HandbookThe National Endowment for the Arts has released a new book to provide cultural administrators with guidance on how to produce fully accessible and inclusive programming.Produced in partnership with the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the MetLife Foundation. http://www.arts.gov/resources/Accessibility/DesignAccessibility.html 4.3 Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association Website LaunchThe new MDAA website is filled with information, discussions and news. This website will be updated weekly to provide you with up to date information about ethnicity and disability issues: www.mdaa.org.au. 4.4 Town RenewalAustralia / WAThe arts play a crucial role in developing sustainable communities. This kitprofiles the experiences of 14 small towns that have culturally renewedthemselves, and provides a range of resources available to assist ruralcommunities in developing strategies appropriate to their own situations. http://www.fuel4arts.com/content/view.asp?id=2408 4.5 Disability Arts and Culture in the 21st CenturyIn 2001 Holton Lee hosted a national conference to take the Disability Arts agenda forward into the 21st century. The conference brought together prominent speakers and players. The resulting report reflects the concerns and aspirations of disabled people in the arts and outlines key principles for supporting disabled artists. The report contains keynote speeches and summaries of discussion groups across a range of art form areas. Email holton@lds.co.uk. 4.6 National Carer Counselling ProgramThe National Carer Counselling Program (NCCP) will extend to carers of older Australians with dementia, mental illness, challenging behaviour, those receiving palliative care and ageing carers of people with disabilities. The program is managed by Carers Australia and delivered by the Commonwealth Carer Resource Centres. For more information contact the National Program Manager, Mary Reid, on (02) 6122 9904; email mreid@carersaustralia.com.au 4.7 Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing through Community Arts ParticipationVicHealthhas released a new report as part of its Mental Health Promotion Plan. The report outlines the findings from a two year evaluation of VicHealth's Community Arts Participation Scheme. Creative Connections is available at: http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/creativeconnections or in hard copy from VicHealth on 03 9667 1333 4.8 Disability Arts ChannelThe ArtsOnline Disability Channel is up and running on in time to celebrate 2003 European Year of Disabled People. It was designed to reflect and celebrate the achievements arising from the UK Disability Arts movement, within a wider mainstream arts context. Features include a history of disability theatre. Go to www.artsonline.com. 4.9 Dancing Dots Music Technology for the BlindBlind musicians can independently create sound recordings and printed scores with Cake Talking for SONAR and Sibelius Speaking for Sibelius. Dancing Dots can train blind musicians to use its technology or to learn how to read Braille music. It offers Braille music courses and sells products such as JAWS and Duxbury Braille Translator Go to: www.dancingdots.com 4.10 NOT-FOR-PROFIT LessonsThe arts, corporate and public sector management and academics could learn much from the not-for-profit sector of our economy. What are some of the critical features of these organisations and their customer relationships that we can learn from? http://www.fuel4arts.com/content/view.asp?id=2259 5.0 Arts Features5.1 Me, My Guitar & Disability ArtRobin Surgeoner (aka Angryfish) explains what he means and how he expresses himself through his poetry and song writing. The most profound emotion he experienced in performing his first 'Disability Arts' gig was the "unadulterated feeling that (he) was engaging in debate with an audience of disabled people". His motto is "Always listen loud and enjoy!" Go to: http://www.e-bility.com/articles/angryfish.shtml 5.2 Actor with Down SyndromeLauded in RussiaSergei Makarov, an actor with Down syndrome, broke new ground in Russia when the film in which he stars, "Starukhi" (Old Women), recently won the Golden Rose -- the top honour at Russia's leading national film festival, Kinotavr. Makarov, 37, is the first actor with Down syndrome to ever star in a Russian feature film.His achievement has particular significance in a country where Soviet-era prejudices toward disability are only slowly dissipating. Makarov says he hopes his role in the film will combat misconceptions about those with Down syndrome. 5.3 When Less is MoreThere are some people without disabilities who like to mutilate themselves to look or feel better. In a thought provoking article which originally appeared in ACROD's DISparity magazine Virginia Tressider explores what motivates these people and examines the implications of their desires and actions for the liberal belief in free speech and expression. Read the full article at: http://www.accessibility.com.au/news/articles/tressida.htm 6.0. Jobs6.1 VictoriaArts Access is seeking a qualified Support Worker for the Get Out! project in Frankston. This is a great opportunity to work on a fun and innovative arts project. For more information visit. http://www.artsaccess.com.au/news/index.cfm?id=250 6.2 Northern TerritoryCorrugated Iron Youth Arts is seeking Expressions of Interest from qualified and experienced people as casual tutors for CIYA's program of skills-development workshops. CIYA currently offers young people (aged 5-25 years) series of workshops in circus and drama. 7 National Network News7.1 News from the National DirectorSince the last e-news I have spent 10 days in the Northern Territory working with the 'Mapping New Territories' project in Alice Springs and the Darwin Arts and Disability Steering Committee on future directions. I met with a wide range of arts organisations and disability service providers in the Territory. There is a lot of amazing work happening in the Territory and we hope to profile some of it on the AAA website in the not too distant future. Regional Arts Australia (RAA) is taking a real interest in access and I will be participating in a community of practice conference (part of the national volunteers training package) in November in Adelaide. Also keep an eye out for more news on the October 2004 RAA conference in Horsham which is being held at the same time as the 'Awakenings' Festival. Finally, congratulations to the following Australian artists selected for inclusion in the June 2004 VSA arts festival in Washington USA (http://www.vsartsfestival.org/): Evan Willis, Maryanne Ireland, Monique Witsen, Wart, Tim Sharp, Tony Doyle, Evolution, Sprinkle Circus, and New Trails Dance Theatre. 
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