Disability Arts History Australia

Items

• "Back to Back Theatre established"
  The theatre company Back to Back was established in 1987. They are a drama group comprising artists with intellectual disabilities who have since toured both nationally and internationally in mainstream Australian theatre.
• “Disabled actors perform at Melbourne Concert Hall”
  In 1982, 50 “handicapped” actors (though none were named in the media) were involved in Access Arts’ ‘Theorem’ at the Melbourne Concert Hall, an example of inclusive arts practice. The performance received broad public attention.
• “The paralympic arts festival, Invincible Summer, is held in conjunction with the 2000 Paralympic games”
  In 2000, Sydney held the Paralympic games. The paralympic arts festival, Invincible Summer, featured comedy, dance, film, art, music, theatre, and street performance, featuring collaborations between artists with and without disabilities.
• “Australian Caption Centre opened in 1982”
  The Australian Caption Centre was opened 13 September, 1982. A tour took place at the Australian Caption Centre in Sydney in the 1990s; the video (now available on YouTube) explains how the Centre worked. In 2005, the Centre sold its commercial operations including the captioning services to Red Bee Media and formed Media Access Australia.
• “Les Murray's poetry is influenced by his autism”
  In 1974, Les Murray wrote a poem about autism, ‘Portrait of the Autist as a New World Driver’. Over the decades since, autism has continued to be a theme, as recognised by Amanda Tink.
• "Australian Film Commission created"
  In 1975, the Australian Film Commission was created, providing grants for film and television projects.
• “The Deaf Film Society creates the documentary ‘Our World’.”
  In 1970, the Deaf Film Society created a documentary called ‘Our World’ on the lived experience of people who were d/Deaf. The Adult Deaf Society assisted with the project.
• “The Australian Government’s Creative Nation policy released in 1994”
  ‘Creative Nation’ was released in 1994. This was the first ever cultural policy formally developed by an Australian Government. Alongside a number of art forms, the policy included establishments like libraries in its definition of culture and pledged $250 million in funding to cultural organisations.
• “Essay collection ‘Growing Up Disabled in Australia’ is published in 2021”
  In 2021, Carly Findlay edited a book ‘Growing Up Disabled in Australia,’ a collection of more than 40 Australian writers with disabilities sharing their lived experiences.
• “Australia Council start development of Code of Conduct for Access in The Arts”
  Australia Council started development of Code of Conduct for Access in The Arts. Consultation took place in 2021-2022.
• “The inaugural National Braille Music Camp takes place”
  In 1986, Ian Cooper was one of the creators of the first National Braille Music Camp, which continues annually.
• "Weave Movement Theatre formed"
  Weave Movement Theatre was formed in 1997 following a series of workshops (organised by Arts Access) led by Adam Benjamin, director of CandoCo, a world-renowned inclusive dance company. Janice Florence was asked to facilitate classes prior to the workshops.
• “Access Arts commissions a multi-arts project, Peter Vance performs the song ‘Welcome to My Day’ at the 1999 Wataboshi Festival in Japan”
  Peter Vance was asked by Access Arts to team up with Ant McKenna to compose a song. He then performed ‘Welcome to My Day’ at the 5th Asia Pacific Wataboshi Music Festival in Japan in 1999. Access Arts sent disposable cameras out to members across Queensland; each story became a collage in the State Library foyer as a day-in-the-life of each artist.
• Arts In Action
• “Tutti Arts – Tutti Choir - Broadway Spectacular 2018 – Promotional Program”
  Tutti Arts – Tutti Choir ‘Broadway Spectacular’ 2018 Promotional Program – reads, in part “Taking its name from the musical term 'tutt', meaning everyone, Tutti is South Australia's only multi arts organisation where artists with a learning disability create visual art, theatre, music, film, new media and installations for a growing local and international audience. To further the organisation's vision of taking the work of disabled artists to the world, Tutti offers disability-led collectives like Company AT, The Sisters of Invention and Sit Down Shutup and Watch Film & New Media Festival a rare opportunity to work in an artistic and administrative environment. This supports artistic growth, audience reach, and industry recognition.”
• Film Australia
• ”Racheal Missingham, Bree Hadley (2022) Oppression and allyship in Australia's Deaf Arts. Australasian Drama Studies, 80, pp. 304-332.”
  "In this article, we investigate the history of Deaf theatre in Australia, through the lens of oppression and allyship. Through a review of the to date limited academic, industry, and media literature, in conjunction with survey and interview research with Deaf theatre practitioners, this research sheds light on Deaf theatre makers’ perceptions of the ways in which ally support can operate to create both social benefits and barriers, and how this has impacted on the non-linear development and recent decline in Deaf theatre companies in Australia. It finds that, in developing a framework to scaffold stronger allyship relationships with d/Deaf and hard of hearing artists, it is critical to consider the accessibility and cultural requirements not just in relation to theatre methodologies, but in relation to arts management practices, which support continuing company production, too."
• "Boram Lee, Ruth Rentschler, and Shin-Eui Park (2022) Connect2Abilities: Staging Virtual Intercultural Collaboration during COVID-19 in Amanda Cachia ed. Curating Access: Disability Art Activism and Creative Accommodation. London: Routledge, 45-58"
  Reads, in part "As a pilot project, Restless Dance Theatre in Adelaide, Australia and SNU MUSIC in Seoul, Korea collaborated to create a digital performing arts piece entitled Dialogue for Six Strings."
• “Tutti Arts – Electric Winter Exhibition – Catalogue/Program”
  Tutti Arts – ‘Electric Winter’ Exhibition 2021 Catalogue/Program – reads, in part “Tutti Arts is one of Australia's leading disability arts companies where artists with learning disability create visual art, music, theatre, dance, film, new media and installations for a growing local and international audience. In 2017, Tutti was awarded a prestigious Arts SA Ruby Award for Sustained Contribution to the Arts by an Organisation or Group. Tutti has been operating visual arts and film & new media programs in the Barossa since 2017. In 2021 Tutti Arts Barossa and Chateau Tanunda, an icon of the Barossa since 1890, have come together to celebrate SALA."
• “Tutti Arts – End of Year Concert 2018 – Program”
  Tutti Arts – End of Year Concert 2018 Program - reads, in part “'Tutti' means everyone. Tutti is South Australia's only multi arts organisation where artists with a learning disability create visual art, theatre, music, film, new media and installations for a growing local and international audience. Tutti also offers disability-led collectives like Company AT, The Sisters of Invention and Sit Down Shutup and Watch Film & New Media Festival a rare opportunity to work in an artistic and administrative environment.”
• "Tutti Arts - The Unbounded Collection Exhibition - Program"
  Tutti Arts 'The Unbounded Collection' Exhibition 2020 Program" - Tutti Arts is one of Australia's leading disability arts companies where artists with a learning disability create visual art, music, theatre, dance, film, new media and installations for a growing local and international audience. In 2017, Tutti was awarded a prestigious Arts South Australia Ruby Award for Sustained Contribution to the Arts by an Organisation or Group. Tutti has been operating visual arts and film & new media programs in the Barossa since September 2017 with ongoing support from the Barossa Council.
• "Australia Council - Annual Report 2006-07"
  Australia Council Annual Report 2006-07 - discusses letter from chairman, year in review, from the CEO, Excellent and Distinctive Art from various artforms, Access for all Australians from various artforms, A strong and vibrant arts sector including artist’s earnings, philanthropic support and arts sector development, About the Australia Council, Governance, Organisation, Accountability, Workplace and Financial statements but no longer listing grants of organisations or individuals however discusses the DADAA WA – Lost Generation Project where a five year project intends to have more than 360 people with intellectual disabilities create self-portraits on film – one of the outcomes of DADAA WA receiving $104,775 in 2006-07 as a key organisation of the community partnerships section.
• "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.
• "Australian Theatre of The Deaf - Show and Tell - Promotional Flyer"
  Australian Theatre of The Deaf Show and Tell Promotional Flyer - reads, in part "These three energetic young perfonners create a wonderfully visual world of fantasy as they tell their stories. There are cats and dogs, animal chases, sock puppets, underwater creatures looking for lunch and lots of fun and laughter as the Australian Theatre of the Deaf bring to life two delightful stories. There's Christine Annello's story The Farmyard Cat and a story devised by the Company. Children are introduced to the idea of using hands, faces and body language as well as spoken words to tell stories."
• Michelle Ryan