Disability Arts History Australia

Items

• "Interview with Jodee Mundy OAM"
  Jodee Mundy OAM is a Disabled creative director, performer, writer, activist, creative producer, executive producer, commissioner, interpreter, film, festival maker and cultural leader. Interview Summary Jodee Mundy OAM, is an artist and festival director who identifies as Coda (child of Deaf adults) and lives with chronic illness reflects on the historical and ongoing challenges faced by Deaf and Disabled artists in Australia. Her work is deeply political, aiming to tell untold stories and bring visibility to marginalized communities. Despite significant achievements, Jodee stresses the need for structural support and inclusivity within the industry, especially given the limitations of hybrid access models post-pandemic. Jodee's personal journey, including her recent incurable cancer diagnosis, shapes her advocacy for a culture of care and well-being in the arts. Jodee leads Alter State, Australia’s Disability- led arts festival presented by Arts Centre Melbourne and Arts Access Victoria.
• "Victoria's Disability Resources Centre (DRC) created"
  1981 saw a number of Disability Activists create the first Australian Disability Resources Centre (DRC) for Victorians with disabilities.
• "Accessible Arts - Arts and Disability Expo - Program"
  Accessible Arts - Arts and DIsability Expo 2015 - Program - reads, in part "'Welcome to the first arts + disability expo. The arts + disability expo aims to provide you with information, advice and access to arts and cultural opportunities. With a variety of arts programs, organisations, venues and practitioners on hand, we hope to provide you with all the support that you need to become involved in creative pursuits. We encourage you to watch some of the performances, listen to the talks about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and view the photographic exhibition. The expo is also a good opportunity to see new and different levels of creative work by artists with disability.' - Sancha Donald, CEO, Accessible Arts"
• "Accessible Arts - Avenues into Creativity for People with Disability 1986- Report"
  Accessible Arts - Avenues into Creativity for People with Disability 1986- Report - PANEL ON 'WHY THE ARTS - Joan Hume: Why the Arts? An overview of the Need; - Lydia Fegan: Citizen Advocacy INFORMATION EXCHANGE - Who's Who - What's Happening SPECIFIC PROJECTS - Jo Caust: Arts Access Society Melbourne; - Angelika Pechloff: Good Time Junk Machine; - Laura Hastings-Smith: Adolescent Medical Unit Children's Hospital, Camperdown ON ART - Pam Fairburn: Cromehurst Special School OPEN SESSION: COMMUNITY GROUPS- Rozelle Arts and Drama Group: Sue MacDonald; - Art Reach: Melissa Lee VIDEOS - Linda Dyer: Activities Research Department, RNSH- Arts with the Aged: Jana Cattanach; The Ward Game- Laura Hastings-Smith: Adolescent Medical Unit; Children's Hospital, Camperdown; ENTERTAINMENT: 'Finger Ballet' - Chin Yu; PUTTING IDEAS INTO ACTION - Jana Cattanach: Artist in Residence, Tweed Shire Council; - Margot Currey: Community Artist/Sculptor; - Nan Bosler: Co-ordinator of the Narrabeen Community Learning Centre & Northern Beaches Creative Leisure Movement; ACCESS: OBSTACLES AND SOLUTIONS! - Ellen Bynum: Accessibility Consultant; - Lis Pack: Royal Blind Society; - Wendy Miners: Recreation Project Officer, AAMR; INTEREST GROUPS - Drama & Movement - Alison Lee; - Computer Art - Duncan Wallace; - Music - John Broomhall, Wollongong; - Silkscreen - Nina Angelo; - Craft - Branka Kringas
• “In 2014, the Australia Council introduces its first grant specifically for artists with disabilities”
  In 2014, the Australia Council introduces its first grant specifically for artists with disabilities. Then Australia Council CEO Tony Grybowski announced “the Artists with Disability Pilot Program; the Council’s Disability Action Plan for 2014-2016; and additional funding for Arts Access Australia to increase career development and employment opportunities for artists with disability.” The pilot program granted $300,000 to disabled artists to develop and present their work. Following this, the program was extended for another three years. The “million dollar investment” would “provide development grants of up to $25,000 and project grants of up to $50,000 for individuals and groups.” That same year, the Australia Council received its first ever grant application in Australian Sign Language (Auslan). However, in 2019, Australia Council ended its dedicated funding program for disabled artists and replaced it with the National Arts and Disability Awards.
• Arts In Action
• “Senator Margaret Guilfoyle creates a committee of people with disabilities representing their own interests”
  In 1979, Senator Margaret Guilfoyle, the Federal Minister for Social Security created a committee of people with disabilities representing their own interests. This followed a complaint by Richard Llewellyn that he was the only token disability representative. This committee led to the formation of formal advocacy groups such as People with Disability Australia (PWDA) and Disability Resource Centre (DRC). The PWDA celebrated their 30th year anniversary in 2011.
• “Demonstrators protest inadequate funding for disability support in Adelaide, 1992”
  On the 13th March, 1992, 100 demonstrators gathered in Adelaide to protest inadequate funding for disability support. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health, Housing and Community Services Brian Howe was “heckled” by the group outside an event at Jubilee Hall during a health care expo. Howe agreed later that year to “honour a federal government promise to expand the National Attendant Care Scheme,” that is, after another demonstration by 70 advocates outside Parliament House.
• Veronica Pardo
• "Kevin Cho (1980) 1981 International Year of Disabled Persons. Melbourne, Australia: Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology."
• Jo Caust
• Michael Newbury
• "Australia Council - Annual Report 1986-87"
  Australia Council Annual Report 1986-87- discusses functions and objectives, structures, process and membership of Council, Council Committees and members, board members, assessment panels, staff lists, organisation chart, main activities of Council and its Boards, and includes financial statements and lists of grants made including grants for programs, workshops for disabled people in community arts, funding for posters on theme of disability, grant for Theatre of the Deaf Braille Book of the Year award and Sound Pot Purri literary magazine for Royal Blind Society
• “The National Disability Strategy 2010–2020 is launched and, later, Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031”
  The Australian Government launched the National Disability Strategy 2010–2020 in 2011. All levels of government were involved in a united national approach to improving life for people with disabilities, their families and carers. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was an outcome of this process. In 2021, the Disability Strategy Advisory Council was established and the most recent iteration of the strategy, Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031, outlines a vision for a more inclusive and accessible Australian society where all people with disability can fulfil their potential as equal members of the community.
• “Creative Australia releases reports on arts participation, including d/Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent artists and audiences”
  A series of reports about arts and disability in Australia published in the mid-to-late-2010s are summarised on the Creative Australia website. Sources for the summary include Connecting Australians: Results of the National Arts Participation Survey (June 2017), Making Art Work: An Economic Study of Professional Artists in Australia (2017), Creating Pathways: Insights on support for artists with disability (2018), and Arts and Disability in Australia: Meeting of Cultural Ministers (2018). The overview of this research series demonstrates that disabled Australians’ participation in the arts had increased as access had grown, though equity for disabled artists, especially those with intersecting marginalised identities, continued to face barriers. It reports that work by disabled artists is innovative and transformative.
• Tutti Arts
• Tutti Ensemble
• Gerard Goggin
• "Interview with Janice Florence"
  Janice Florence is a performing artist and disability advocate. She originally trained as a Teacher and Librarian. Janice has worked in Education and Libraries for many years and in disability advocacy for 20 years She has worked in Training and Consultation at Arts Access Vic for 12 years. Janice has been involved in theatre, dance and human movement for over 35 years. For 25 years she has been the Artistic Director of Weave Movement Theatre, comprising disabled and non-disabled performers. Weave has produced many devised original works often with respected performing artists as collaborators. She was the inaugural recipient of the Australia Council Awards for Disability Arts-Established Artist in 2019. Interview Summary Janice Florence is a veteran performer and Artistic Director of Weave Movement Theatre, which includes disabled performers. During the interview, Janice reflected on her extensive history with dance, both prior to and after acquiring her disability, highlighting the significance of political and personal themes, as well as the use of humour in her work. She discussed the ongoing challenges in securing accessible rehearsal and performance spaces, along with the complexities of funding and recognition within the Disability Arts scene in Australia. Janice also acknowledged the importance of Disability Arts historically and its potential for challenging societal expectations regarding disability.
• "Interview with David Doyle"
  David Doyle is the Executive Director of DADAA and has spent over 30 years leading large-scale Community Arts and Cultural Development (CACD) and arts projects globally and in Western Australia, significantly contributing to the arts and disability sectors through his work with DADAA and his dedication to community wellbeing and access to arts and culture. Interview Summary David Doyle, who originally trained in printmaking and ceramics with a background in community arts, has worked extensively in community arts and cultural development with a focus on addressing social issues through the arts. His experience with a disability from a young age and a deep understanding of power dynamics and privilege have influenced his motivation and commitment to disability arts in Australia. David highlights the significance of the Disability Discrimination Act and NDIS in empowering artists with disabilities and notes the uneven distribution of resources for disability arts across Australia. As the leader of an arts organization, he values the transition of power to individual artists with disabilities, stressing the importance of equipping them with the skills and contacts needed to lead and redefine the sector.
• Larissa MacFarlane
• Larissa McFarlane
• "Headliners - IMBD"
  Headliners' Internet Movie Database (IMDB) entry - reads, in part "Musician and fervent campaigner for inclusion, access and equality, Elly-May Barnes leads the quest to create two bands made up entirely of musicians living with disability."
• High Beam Festival
• Royal Blind Society