Disability Arts History Australia

Items

• "Crossroad Arts - Artistic Development, captured 2024"
  Crossroad Arts - Community Development, captured 2024 - reads, in part "Crossroad Arts is passionate about creating opportunities for people with disability who are serious about developing their skills in contemporary performance."
• “Arts Access Victoria – Art Everywhere (2010-2015)"
  Between 2010 and 2015, Arts Access Victoria (AAV) received $2.5 million to support audio description and captioning in film as part of its worth with The Other Film Festival, launched Write-ability with Writers Victoria, the mobile, accessible arts space Nebula in Melbourne’s Federation Square in 2012, and collaborated in research such as the ‘Beyond Access’ project with University of Melbourne and Dance Haptics with Deakin University.
• "Interview with Asphyxia"
  Asphyxia is an artist, author, activist and performer who has founded Amplio, a music app for Deaf and hard of hearing people. She also provides free online Auslan lessons and online art courses. Interview Summary Asphyxia is a Deaf artist whose journey into the arts started with a deep love for ballet, but after facing discrimination due to her Deafness, she pivoted to a successful career in circus performance and later puppetry, which embraced her Deafness and signing skills. Her work in performance art led her to write and illustrate the Awards-winning art-journal book, Future Girl, which explores Deaf identity and environmental issues. She has now moved into music, creating an app that makes music accessible and writing music designed with Deaf and hard of hearing audiences in mind. Although not sure about the major milestones in disability arts history in Australia, she considers her art to be both political and personal, often tackling issues related to her identity as a Deaf person and the aesthetics of disability equipment. While Asphyxia identifies as a Deaf artist, above all, she sees herself as an artist whose work appeals to the mainstream while celebrating Deafness and diversity.
• "Interview with Caroline Bowditch"
  Caroline Bowditch is an Australian artistic director, leader, performer, presenter, instructor, disability advocate and was the CEO of Arts Access Victoria. Interview Summary Caroline Bowditch, the CEO and Artistic Director of Arts Access Victoria, shared her journey as a performance artist and her experiences working within the Disability Arts community, highlighting her creative process and the challenges faced by disabled artists in Australia. Despite significant support and successful projects in the UK, she expressed concern over the limited progression and exposure of Disability Arts in Australia, noting a lack of ambition and opportunity deterring artists from aiming for larger, mainstream stages. Bowditch emphasized the importance of integrating access as a core component of artistic work and changing the aesthetic by including diverse bodies and perspectives. She also discussed tackling intersectionality within Disability Arts, reflecting on her own experiences as a visibly disabled and queer woman, and contemplating the future of Disability Arts, the desire for cultural equity, and the impact of potential shifts in societal barriers.
• "Interview with Morwenna Collett"
  Morwenna is a leader, consultant and facilitator in the arts, government, not-for-profit and university sectors and is passionate about helping arts and cultural organisations to include everyone in their work. Interview Summary Morwenna Collett is a consultant in diversity, access and inclusion and during the interview discusses her vast experience in the disability arts sector including time in the Australia Council where she played a key role in creating the first targeted funding program for artists with disabilities. Morwenna notes that while disability arts is gaining some awareness with mainstream audiences, there are still issues regarding how people think about the quality of art created by artists with disabilities. Morwenna highlights the NDIS as a significant milestone for disability arts in Australia, though she believes that there is much more potential for arts organizations to engage with it. Morwenna also emphasizes that the decision for artists to identify with their disability is a personal choice and it is becoming increasingly safe to disclose this identity, demonstrating progress toward inclusion in the arts.
• "Interview with Tim McCallum"
  Tim McCallum is a singer, performer and speaker and disability advocate. Interview Summary Tim McCallum is a performer who specializes in singing and acting, with singing being his foremost talent. Having sustained a spinal cord injury resulting in quadriplegia before beginning his studies at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Tim's childhood passion for the performing arts has continued to motivate his career. Through his experiences, both positive and negative, regarding inclusion and discrimination in the arts, Tim has become determined to challenge preconceived notions and make disability a visible and celebrated aspect of performance. He is a strong advocate for the representation of artists with disabilities in leadership roles within arts governance, stressing the importance of lived expertise over tokenism for lasting change in the industry.
• "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 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.
• "Interview with Graham Wilfred Junior"
  Graham Wilfred Junior is a Yolngu man and artist with Incite Arts where he works with different mediums including filmmaking, writing, performing and music. Interview Summary Graham, an emerging artist with spina bifida whose father inspired his passion for art, has pursued various art forms including painting, music, and digital art, now calls Mparntwe/Alice Springs home, and is venturing into theatre and filmmaking. His digital artwork, through the creation of the indigemoji app, helps teach the Arrernte, the language of the First Nations people of Mparntwe/Alice Springs. He now seeks to expand his impact through acting and creating films. Graham's motivation is to both celebrate and inspire people with disability, aiming for recognition as an artist rather than focusing solely on his disability. Graham shares his journey with Incite Arts, highlighting his involvement in music workshops, acting classes and script development, emphasizing the importance of representation and empowerment for individuals with disability. Ultimately, he aims to document his experiences and create impactful performances that leave a legacy to encourage others to pick up where he leaves off, ensuring the continuity of artistic expression within his community.
• "Accessible Arts - ACE Arts Creativity Expression -1998 Sum - Iss3"
  Accessible Arts - ACE Arts Creativity Expression News Publication issue 2 Summer 1998 - information/reviews of Creative Writing, Music, Dance, Theatre and Performance programs,opportunities, resources
• "The Other Film Festival WA Program 2022"
  The Other Film Festival WA Program 2022 – Australian work screened includes Shadow (52:00) Bruce Gladwin; Different Lens: Julia Hales (2:20) Frank Carroll; Different Lens: Nang Nguyen (2:20) Frank Carroll; Evacuate (2:00) Gaele Sobott; First Responders. Breanna: Relationships (2:09) Back to Back Theatre - Ahmarnya Price; Gemma (5:17) Rafael Star; I Was Born (Misfit) (5:10) Gaele Sobott; Price Versus Penny Arcade (9:28) Back to Back Theatre - Tamara Searle; Resource Daddies (7:40) Nemeses - Vidya Rajan and Alistair Baldwin; Silent Dance (4:00) Rohin John; Sparkles (12:49) Jacqueline Pelczar and Tina Fielding ; Yulubidyi (12:48) Curtis Taylor and Nathan Mewett
• ".. Inflight"
  Invitation reads ".. Inflight - A photographic exhibition resulting from a short series of choreographic workshops directed by South Australian independent artist with a disability, Philip Channells."
• "High Beam Festival Program 2006"
  High Beam Festival Program 2006 reads "High Beam is a 10 day integrated arts festival showcasing work inspired by or influenced by experiences of disability. Presenting both professional and recreational artists, audiences will see many of the world's most exciting and innovative achievements in arts and disability."
• "High Beam Festival Program 2008"
  High Beam Program 2008 reads "Australia's international celebration of Arts and Disability - COMEDY | THEATRE| MUSIC | VISUAL ARTS | COMMUNITY EVENTS"
• "High Beam Local 2006"
  High Beam Local Festival Flyer 2006 reads "Adelaide the home to Some of Australia's most innovative festivals is aiving birth to a new invigorated High Beam Festival. In 1998, the vision and passion of many dedicated South Australians brought about the biennial High Beam Festival with unforgettable performances by artists with disabilities from Australia and around the globe. Arts Access SA's High Beam, like Australia's largest festival, the Adelaide Fringe has undergone a few changes and with it for 2006/07, comes two festivals, High Beam Local and High Beam Global. International Day for People with Disabilities on 3 December is when High Beam Local comes to life. While Beam Global will be part of Adelaide Fringe 2007. What ever takes your fancy Hiah Beam will undoubtedly provide you with a show or three that will amaze, excite and light your fire of healthy, artistic curiosity"
• "Arts in Action Annual Report 2004"
  Arts in Action Annual Report 2004, describing the organisation’s work, including the 2004 High Beam Festival, an artistic program including visual arts workshops, music club and choir.
• "High Beam Festival 1998 Poster"
  High Beam Festival Poster 1998 reads "High Beam Festival PRESENTED BY: SPARC DISABILITY FOUNDATION in association with ARTS IN ACTION INC"
• "High Beam Festival Program 1998"
• "High Beam Festival Program 2004"
  High Beam Festival Program 2004 reads "Welcome to evolve High Beam 2004 – A stimulating and inspiring seven-day cultural experience for people with a disability, families, friends and support workers, artists with a disability, professionals working in the disability sector, art workers and others."
• "Access Arts Annual Report 1988"
  Access Arts Annual Report 1988 - President’s Report, Performance, Workshops
• "Access Arts Annual Report 1992"
  Access Arts Annual Report 1992 - Director’s Report, Project Officer’s Report, Program Manager’s Report, exhibitions, workshops, regional arts, touring, (DADAA) at ARTAbility Conference at the Queensland Cultural Centre 1992
• "Access Arts Annual Report 2002"
  Access Arts Annual Report 2002 - Film, Radion Performing Arts, Storytelling and Multi Arts workshops, touring, regional activities, Brisbane Outsider Artist (BOA) activites, Wataboahi Music Festival
• "Access Arts Annual Report 2005"
  Access Arts Annual Report 2005 - Indigenous Projects Report, Workshops, Sound Circles Project Report
• "Access Arts Annual Report 2006"
  Access Arts Annual Report 2006 - Indigenous Projects Report, Events, Workshops, Brisbane Outsider Artists Studio (BOA), Sound Circles Project Report
• "Access Arts Annual Report 2007"
  Access Arts Annual Report 2007 - Indigenous Projects, Brisbane Outsider Artists (BOA), Sound Circles, Wataboshi Festival, Conferences, Events & Celebrations, Workshops, Partnerships