Disability Arts History Australia

Items

• Sue MacDonald
• Peter Binning
• Nina Mishriky
• “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.
• "Accessible Arts - ACE Arts Creativity Expression - Dave King - Article: DADAA - Disability in the Arts/Disadvantage in the Arts- Iss5, Pg3"
  Accessible Arts - ACE Arts Creativity Expression - Dave King - Article: DADAA - Disability in the Arts/Disadvantage in the Arts- Iss5, Pg3reads, in part "DISABILITY IN THE ARTS/DISADVANTAGED IN THE ARTS AUSTRALIA (DADAA) is a group of artists/art workers who represent the states and territories of Australia. Its members are representatives from those groups who work towards artistic empowerment and filling the creative needs of people with disabilities - that is to name a few, ACCESSIBLE ARTS and ARTS ACCESS. All the current members attended a meeting in July. They all work with people with disabilities and three have disabilities. The inaugural meeting was held in late 1990. This group was formed to facilitate and maintain a responsive external overview of the trends in the arts for those experiencing disadvantage or a disability."
• Tracie Sammut
• Marianne Ireland
• Maryanne Ireland
• High Beam Festival
• “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.
• “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.
• "Accessible Arts - ACE Arts Creativity Expression - Pru Jobling - Press Release: Appointments to Disability Services Advisory Committee (DSAC) in all states, and to the Advisory Council of Australia (DACA) - Iss4, Pg18-19"
  Accessible Arts - ACE Arts Creativity Expression - Pru Jobling - Press Release: Appointments to Disability Services Advisory Committee (DSAC) in all states, and to the Advisory Council of Australia (DACA) - Iss4, Pg18-19 - reads, in part "You may or may not be aware that the Minister for Health, Housing and Community Services (formerly DCS&H) Mr Brian Howe, has recently appointed new members of the disability community to the Disability Services Advisory Committee (DSAC) in all states, and to the Advisory Council of Australia (DACA) which is the national body."
• “Activism leads to a Disability Royal Commission”
  Decades of activism led to a 2019 Senate motion calling for a Disability Royal Commission. The first public hearing of the Royal Commission took place on 16th September, 2019 at Brisbane’s Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Commission resulted in a report in 12 volumes. Several volumes include Volume 3: Nature and extent of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, Volume 6: Enabling autonomy and access, Volume 7: Inclusive education, employment and housing, Volume 9: First Nations people with disability, and Volume 10: Disability services. Overall, the Commission presented “222 recommendations on how to improve laws, policies, structures and practices to ensure a more inclusive and just society that supports the independence of people with disability and their right to live free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.” In 2023, the final report of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability was published with 220 recommendations for a more inclusive nation to reduce exploitation, violence, abuse and neglect of people with disabilities.
• "Queensland Government releases Arts & Disability Plan 2024-2026"
  Reads, in part "The Queensland Government acknowledges the rights of people with disability to participate equally in the state’s cultural life and to have the opportunity to develop and use their creative, artistic and intellectual potential, as recognised in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability."
• "DADAA Inc and Arts Access Australia (2012) public Art Works: Employment in the Arts for People with Disability.  http://www.dadaa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Art-Works-Full-Report-Web.pdf"
  Reads, in part "This document provides a short overview of the full Art Works report, which captures the results from national research into employment levels, barriers and strategies around employment in the arts for people with disability. The report was produced in response to one of the key focus areas of the National Arts and Disability Strategy, released in 2009."
• Tutti Arts
• Tutti Ensemble
• Theatre of the Deaf
• Australian Theatre of the Deaf
• "Accessible Arts - ACE Arts Creativity Expression - Helen Meekosha, Leanne Dowse and Andrew Jakubowicz - Article: Exposing Mass Culture To Disability Issues - Iss15"
  Accessible Arts - ACE Arts Creativity Expression - Helen Meekosha, Leanne Dowse and Andrew Jakubowicz - Article: Exposing Mass Culture To Disability Issues - Iss15 -analysis of TV Series 'House Gang'
• “The Victorian Government commissions ‘Picture This: Increasing the Cultural Participation of People with a Disability in Victoria’”
  In 2008, ‘Picture This: Increasing the Cultural Participation of People with a Disability in Victoria’ was published. The report was commissioned by the Victorian Government, specifically the Victorian Office for Disability in partnership with Arts Victoria and Disability Services Division and written by Kim Dunphy and Petra Kuppers. It focussed on methods to increase participation by people with disability in the arts as artists and audience members.
• “‘Arts and Disability: A Research Report’ published in 1995”
  In 1995, ‘Arts and Disability: A Research Report’ was published. Des Walsh and Juliet London were commissioned by the Australia Council to prepare the report. However, they found little information that was relevant to the theme of the report. In addition to a review of existing literature, they met with people involved in arts organisations, disability organisations and organisations dedicated to both, as well as funding bodies. Walsh and London outlined the different ways that disabled people interact with the arts: as artists, consumers, and through art therapy. They also recognised the “negative or unduly limiting notions attached to arts in relation to disability” (12). Overall, they found “no conclusive evidence […of a] widely shared, articulated concept of a ‘disability arts’ movement in Australia” at that time. The report was intended to inform meaningful policy going forward. They made recommendations related to buildings and physical barriers, leadership, education and training and action plans.
• "Australia Council for the Arts (2014) A Million Dollar Commitment to Artists with Disability. Australia Council for the Arts. 28 October 2014"
  Reads, in part "Australia Council Chief Executive Officer Tony Grybowski made the announcement today at the Arts Activated Conference in Chatswood, Sydney. Mr Grybowski said the decision to extend the dedicated arts and disability funding was made after a successful pilot was run earlier this year."
• "Accessible Arts - ACE Arts Creativity Expression - Juliet London - Article: Artwise -1994 - Iss9, Pg22-23"
  Accessible Arts - ACE Arts Creativity Expression - Juliet London - Article: Artwise -1994 - Iss9, Pg22-23 - reads, in part "Artwise, a Lismore-based artists' initiative catering for the needs of artists with varying intellectual and physical challenges, has changed its name! We have succeeded, after twelve months, in becoming officially incorporated. We are now known as Growth Through Art Artwise the Lismore Inc., although the company sign at the doorway still proudly announces simply Artwise."
• "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