Disability Arts History Australia

Items

• Broughton Art Society
• Learning Creative Skills
• Chris Brophy
• Meeting Place Arts and Disability Forum
• Ruth Rentschler
• Jess Kapuscinski-Evans
• "Amanda Cachia (2022) Networks of Care: Collectivity as Dialogic Creative Access, in Amanda Cachia ed. Curating Access: Disability Art Activism and Creative Accommodation. London: Routledge, 219-230"
  Reads, in part "The collectives that have formed in recent years and that will be the subject of this chapter include the Feminist Health Care Research Group (FHCRG), the Sickness Affnity Group (SAG), and Power Makes Us Sick (PMS). Each of these groups attempts to be intersectional in their approach, focusing on feminist and crip revisions to health care. Feminist and crip unite in the groups as the participants all identify as both women and as disabled. In shared spaces, which can be found in physical spaces, such as an art gallery or an artist’s home, or online through Zoom, artists can offer mutual understanding of their experiences with chronic illness, disability, the medical industrial complex, and simply be a shoulder to lean on in times of anxiety, anger, and sadness. The collectives also offer an opportunity for the artists to lift each other up, creating an environment of respect, dignity, and self-worth, becoming a strong circle of empowerment, affrmation, and allyship. The proliferation of these support groups shows a general shift in social norms, where the medical feld no longer holds the only authoritative voice on health. This phenomenon also indicates how nonmedical health based groups are flling a need and making up for a lack in social support networks elsewhere, particularly within sanctioned medical arenas."
• Murmuration Dance Theatre
• Julia Hales
• South Australian Film Corporation
• Jung Yoon
• Jung Hyoung Yoon
• Chris Finnen
• Disability Arts History Australia Launch 2025 - 1 Page Information Sheet
• "Bree Hadley (2015) Participation, politics and provocations: People with disabilities as non-conciliatory audiences. Participations: journal of audience and reception studies, 12(1), pp. 154-174.”
  "Disability has always had a prominent place on the theatrical stage. Throughout the C19th, C20th and C21st to date, disabled characters have been used to signify corruption, innocence or suffering, and, of course, as salutary examples of how to overcome such suffering. In the past three decades, the work of disability scholars, activists and artists has also provided opportunities for people with disabilities to produce their own plays, performances or installations challenging these stereotypes. Interestingly, though both the body of literature on theatre makers with disabilities and the body of literature on theatre audiences has grown apace over the past decade, there is still surprisingly little written on people with disabilities as theatre audiences. In this article, I draw on observations made during five years of practical, empirical and theoretical research into disability theatre to discuss how people with disabilities work as a distinctive sub-group of spectators, with distinctive spectatorial processes, modalities and preferences, within contemporary theatre audiences. I begin with the factors that make attending theatre difficult for people with disabilities. I note that people with disabilities respond to the challenges they face in attempting to become active audiences of contemporary theatre in three common ways. I then unpack what these spectatorial modalities teach us about people with disabilities as audiences, other marginalised groups as audiences, as well as about audiences, audiencing and the part audiences play in theatre practice more generally."
• "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.
• "Interview with Digby Webster"
  Digby Webster is a visual artist working with the mediums of oil pastels and acrylics and is also a performer, designer and co-founding member of past performance ensemble Ruckus Ensemble. Interview Summary Digby Webster is an artist with a wide range of creative talents, including theater, dance, animation, and mural painting. He has worked on various projects, including an animated short film called "Blockhead and Sparkles," and has had his artwork displayed in places like the Sydney Olympic Park and Vivid Sydney. Digby does not define himself by his disability and takes pride in the various creative endeavors he's involved in, aiming to have his art reach people in meaningful ways outside traditional galleries. In the future, he is interested in exploring fashion, designing artwork for clothing, and he hopes to see more people wearing his art.
• "Accessible Arts and Tin Sheds Gallery - AART-BOXX 2008 - Program"
  Accessible Arts and Tin Sheds Gallery- AART-BOXX 2008 Program - reads, in part "AART.BOXX is an exhibition and cultural initiative that highlights the current and diverse art practices of young and emerging artists with a disability. Initiated by Accessible Arts, the peak arts and disability body in NSW, AART.BOXX aims to extend and challenge current discourses within contemporary art by including art practices that are informed by cultures of disability. These artists are a creative force whose unique voices are often marginalized within the broader cultural context."
• "Australia Council - Annual Report 2013-14"
  Australia Council Annual Report 2013-2014 – discusses year in review, report from the CEO, Strategic priorities, funding overview, statement of outcome, about the Australia Council including The Governing Council and the Board, Structure of the Australia Council; financial review and discussion of funding for numerous programs including a new Artists with Disability Program grant which funded development opportunities and creative projects for practitioners with disability and the dance board funded development and presentation of new work, workshops and residency programs, and strategic initiatives that focus on leadership, development and collaboration with a highlight being the “Torque Show” supported for the Melbourne premiere of “Intimacy”, a collaboration with Michelle Ryan presented as part of the Unlimited Festival in London which celebrates originality of artists with disability.
• "Australia Council - Annual Report 2012-13"
  Australia Council Annual Report 2012-2013 – discusses year in review, report from the CEO, Strategic priorities, funding overview, statement of outcome, about the Australia Council including The Governing Council and the Board, Structure of the Australia Council; financial review and discussion of Access Champions group focused on key actions from the 2011–13 Disability Action Plan, including programs for increased participation by artists with disabilities and to develop technical capacity and digital literacy for both operational and artistic activities, funding for exhibition of artists with disability work, premises and Australia Council website accessibility, and participation at national and international arts and disability forums.
• "Interview with Jenny Simpson"
  Jenny is CEO and Artistic Director of AWESOME Arts Australia while also a Musical Director of the Mighty Camelot Community Choir and a Sessional Academic at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at Edith Cowan University. Interview Summary Jenny Simpson is the CEO and Artistic Director of AWESOME Arts Australia. She grew up in a musical family and always had an interest in the arts. After working in the corporate world, she decided to pursue a role in the arts to make a difference in the community. She has since focused on engaging young people with disabilities in the arts, and has worked on projects and festivals that promote inclusivity and accessibility. She believes that the perception of disability arts is changing and hopes to see more individuals with disabilities involved in arts management.
• "Interview with Michael Noble"
  Michael Noble is a professional dancer and performer and has been with Restless Dance Theatre since 2015. Interview Summary Michael Noble is an ex-foster kid turned contemporary dancer at Restless Dance Theatre, who started in arts as an outlet for expression. His dance style has evolved from literal interpretations to more abstract movements, as Restless has supported his growth and mental health needs. Being in a company that accommodates artists with disabilities has led Michael to explore his own neurodivergence, specifically relating to being on the autism spectrum. He believes art, including the political, is less about the message itself and more about being the messenger for another's vision or interpreting and sharing one's own perspectives.
• "Interview with Jianna Georgiou"
  Jianna Georgiou is a professional dancer, director and choreographer and has been with Restless Dance since 2006. Interview Summary Jianna Georgiou, who has Italian and Cypriot heritage, shared her journey as a dancer. She expressed her aspirations to collaborate with friends from other dance companies and emphasized her desire to continue her path with Restless Dance Theatre. Jianna’s determination remains strong, fuelled by her goal to perform and the emotional connection she feels through dance. She hopes to explore various dance styles, including hip-hop, which currently resonates with her, and she is motivated by the creative and energetic environment at Restless Dance Theatre.
• "Australia Council - Access and audience development in Australia"
  Australia Council - 'Access and audience development in Australia' reports - reads, in part "These reports were commissioned in 2004 to assess what is currently being done, and what needs to be done, to increase access to the performing arts and museums & galleries in Australia for people with a disability."
• "Accessible Arts - Creative Initiatives, captured 2022"
  Accessible Arts - Creative Initiatives - reads, in part "The unique perspectives and experiences of artists with disability – as well as the intersection of cultural identities across all types of disability – present exciting avenues for new artistic possibilities right across the spectrum of visual, performing, literary, screen and digital arts. We’re here to work with arts and cultural organisations, government agencies and other funding partners to deliver creative initiatives focused on providing development and production opportunities for all kinds of artists with disability or who are d/Deaf."