Disability Arts History Australia

Items

• “Arts Access Australia established”
  Arts Access Australia was established in 1992 as a national body for arts and disability with funding support from the Australian Council for the Arts.
• “Commonwealth Disability Strategy launched in December 1994”
  The Commonwealth Disability Strategy was launched in December 1994. The strategy was meant to ensure compliance by Commonwealth Departments with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) (passed in 1992). The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House reports that “Results have been uneven, especially in employment, but the Act has made some breakthroughs on education and disability access in new buildings.”
• “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.
• “Disabled People’s International (Australia) (DPIA) formed in 1983”
  The organisation Disabled People’s International (Australia) (DPIA) was formed in 1983. Thirteen disabled Australians who attended Disabled People’s International (DPI) first world assembly in Singapore in 1981, the International Year of the Disabled Person, returned home to set up the Australian branch two years later. The Women with Disabilities Australia online history reports that DPIA “from the outset, was dominated by disabled men. Only 3 of the 11 members of its governance structure were women, and there was no mention of women or gender in DPIA goals and objectives.” This led to the establishment of a women’s network within DPIA, known as the National Women’s Network (DPIA).
• “Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) recognised as an independent organisation in 1995”
  Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA) gained seed funding from the government in 1994 and was recognised as an independent organisation in 1995. The organisation shares a history with Disabled People’s International (Australia) (established 1983) and its National Women’s Network (established 1985).
• “The Art of Difference Disability and Deaf Arts Festival takes place in 2009”
  The Art of Difference Disability and Deaf Arts Festival in 2009 featured visual, performing, literary and new media artists as a two-week international arts festival.
• “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.
• “Australia signs the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability”
  In 2007, Australia signed the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability. The CRPD seeks to “promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities”. The Convention came into effect in Australia on 16 August 2008.
• “In 2003, a demonstration outside Canberra’s Parliament House protests changes to Centrelink guidelines”
  In 2003, the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Disabled Soldiers Association staged a protest outside Parliament House in Canberra, over changes to Centrelink guidelines that could have cost them up to $200 per week in income. “He said in Parliament that our payments are adequate, he's somebody who has never had the time to speak to us,” Association President John Ryan remarked of then Prime Minister John Howard.
• “Arts Access Australia launches Meeting Place”
  Arts Access Australia launched Meeting Place in 2012, an annual forum where artists and industry leaders meet to discuss arts and disability and to network. The forum includes keynotes, panels, and workshops.
• “Flow Festival, Australia’s Deaf Arts festival, is founded”
  Flow Festival, Australia’s Deaf Arts festival, was founded in 2018 by Ramas McRae, Irene Holub, and Medina Sumovic. The Deaf-led biennial festival provides a groundbreaking and dedicated platform for established and emerging Deaf/Hard of Hearing artists. Flow is held in Victoria but is described as “Australia’s national celebration of Deaf arts and culture”.
• “The documentary series ‘You Can't Ask That’ premieres in 2016”
  The ABC started a documentary series in 2016 called ‘You Can't Ask That,’ which asks "outrageous, uncomfortable and shocking questions to uncover the truth behind some of the most marginalised and misunderstood Australians." The series has featured episodes focused on people with short stature, Downs syndrome, schizophrenia, and autism, Deaf people, blind people, and wheelchair users.
• “The Australian Government launches a new national cultural policy, Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place”
  The Australian Government launched a new national cultural policy, Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place. Revive comprises 5 pillars: First Nations First, A Place for Every Story, Centrality of the Artist, Strong Cultural Infrastructure, and Engaging the Audience. The policy allocates $5 million for an Arts and Disability Associated Plan, under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–31 “to enable people with disability to access and participate fully in the cultural and creative life of Australia.” This replaces the National Arts and Disability Strategy.
• “Bus Stop Films begins operation in 2009”
  Bus Stop Films began operations in 2009. In their own words, they “educate, create and advocate.” Their primary focus is teaching filmmaking to disabled adults, but they also offer workshops to others of marginalised identities. Bus Stop “makes films with, for and about people from diverse backgrounds and abilities.” Their website lists support workers in every Australian state and territory.
• "South Australian Film Corporation (2018) Disability Screen Strategy"
  Reads, in part "Launched in 2018 under the SAFC’s Delivering Diversity umbrella, FULL TILT is the SAFC’s initiative for an inclusive approach to skills development for screen content makers with disability, and a starting point for driving change across the industry to achieve greater inclusion for practitioners with disability to develop their craft."
• DADAA
• Beats Crew
• Company AT
• The Sisters of Invention
• Dance Integrated Australia
• Melbourne Fringe Festival
• Screen Australia
• Weave Movement Theatre
• Awakenings Festival
• National Gallery of Australia