Disability Arts History Australia

Items

• "Queensland Ballet - Dance for Parkinsons"
  Queensland Ballet 'Dance for Parkinsons' 2015 - reads, in part "Dance can offer physical and social benefits for people of all ages. At Queensland Ballet we invite members of the community affected by Parkinson's Disease to join us for specialised dance classes."
• "Disability activist Geoff Bell leads significant advocacy”
  In the 1970s, Geoff Bell was a disability activist who, after a diving accident left him quadriplegic at age 21, was placed in a nursing home. Not accepting nursing homes as appropriate residences for young people, he wrote to the then Minister for Social Security Bill Hayden. The letter was presented to parliament. In April 1978, Geoff Bell led ten members of the Disabled People’s Action Forum as they blockaded the entrance to a Medibank claims office for an hour. The protest was held outside Medibank to raise awareness of the architectural barriers to conducting personal business when Medibank was supposed to be of service. Signs held by the members read “We don’t need a stairway to paradise, We want ramps to independence".
• “The Commonwealth Disability Services Act of 1986 replace the Handicapped Persons Assistance Act of 1974”
  In 1983, The Hawke Labour Government evaluated the initiatives created under the Handicapped Persons Assistance Act of 1974. The HPAA was replaced in 1986 by the Commonwealth Disability Services Act of 1986. Among other changes, this Act represents the shift in nomenclature from 'handicap' to ‘disability’.
• “The national tour of the exhibition BodySuits results in commissions and new opportunities for artists”
  A visual arts exhibition, BodySuits, toured nationally between 1997 and 1999. It was curated by Jane Trengove. This resulted in commissions and new opportunities for artists. Arts Access Victoria published a catalogue for the exhibition in 1997; the exhibition showed in Melbourne from 5 July - 2 August 1997 at 200 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy (a location now known as Gertrude Contemporary).
• “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.
• “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.
• “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.
• "NuunaRon - Min Min Lights by Josh Lennox"
  First Peoples Disability Network NuunaRon Art Group - 'Min Min Lights' by Josh Lennox
• "NuunaRon - Rainbow Serpents by Eve Kitchener"
  First Peoples Disability Network NuunaRon Art Group - 'Rainbow Serpents' by Eve Kitchener
• "NuunaRon - Totums by Paula Wotton"
  First Peoples Disability Network NuunaRon Art Group - 'Totums' by Paula Wotton
• "NuunaRon - Wiradjuri Country by Eve Kitchener"
  First Peoples Disability Network NuunaRon Art Group - 'Wiradjuri Country' by Eve Kitchener
• "NuunaRon - Pleasant Dreams by Josh Lennox"
  First Peoples Disability Network NuunaRon Art Group - 'Pleasant Dreams' by Josh Lennox
• "NuunaRon - Untitled by Aunty Robyn Lennox"
  First Peoples Disability Network NuunaRon Art Group - Untitled by Aunty Robyn Lennox
• "NuunaRon - Family Lines by Aunty Robyn Lennox"
  First Peoples Disability Network NuunaRon Art Group - 'Family Lines' by Aunty Robyn Lennox
• "NuunaRon - Dreaming by Aunty Alice Bonny"
  First Peoples Disability Network NuunaRon Art Group - 'Dreaming' by Aunty Alice Bonny
• "NuunaRon - Dragonfly by Bec Jones"
  First Peoples Disability Network NuunaRon Art Group - 'Dragonfly' by Bec Jones
• "NuunaRon - Elders Gathering by Paul Constable Calcott"
  First Peoples Disability Network NuunaRon Art Group - 'Elders Gathering' by Paul Constable Calcott
• "NuunaRon - Songlines by Paul Constable Calcott"
  First Peoples Disability Network NuunaRon Art Group - 'Songlines' by Paul Constable Calcott
• "NuunaRon - Mamalanha by Paul Constable Calcott"
  First Peoples Disability Network NuunaRon Art Group - 'Mamalanha' by Paul Constable Calcott