Disability Arts History Australia

Items

• Hilary Bell
• Helen Connor
• Heath Britton
• Gerry Shearim
• Geoff Cobham
• Fiona Cook
• Emma J Hawkins
• David Doyle
• Clark Crystal
• Charlie Smith
• Cathy Staughton
• Catherine Staughton
• Catherine Parker
• Bryan Tingey
• Breda Carty
• Boram Lee
• Ana Nguyen
• Aimee Crathearn
• Indelability Arts
• “The inaugural Undercover Artist Festival, a biennial, disability-led performing arts festival, is held in 2015”
  In 2015, the inaugural Undercover Artist Festival took place. The festival was founded by Access Arts in consultation with Access Arts participants and a group of artists with disability. The festival has consistently been directed by leaders who identify as experiencing disability.
• “A national Disability Advisory Council is established in 1983”
  The national Disability Advisory Council (DACA) was established in 1983. Parliamentary information from 26 July that year reports: “Disabled people will form a significant majority on the new body. Announcing this today, the Minister for Social Security, Senator Don Grimes, said the new Disability Advisory Council of Australia represented an important breakthrough for disabled people. For the first time, an Australian Government will be looking to disabled people themselves for advice on government policy and programs affecting them.”
• “Sally Chance works with participants with disabilities, leading to the founding of Restless Dance Theatre”
  In 1989, UK-based community dance worker Sally Chance was invited to participate in the Come Out festival in Adelaide. She returned to South Australia the next year and begun the work with participants with disabilities which lead to the founding (alongside Tania Rose) of Restless Dance Theatre in 1991. Restless Dance Theatre continues to create and exhibit work by integrated ensembles. Their extensive performance history is available in the AusStage database. (see https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/organisation/7046)
• "Back to Back Theatre established"
  The theatre company Back to Back was established in 1987. They are a drama group comprising artists with intellectual disabilities who have since toured both nationally and internationally in mainstream Australian theatre.
• Fayen d'Evie
• “Disabled actors perform at Melbourne Concert Hall”
  In 1982, 50 “handicapped” actors (though none were named in the media) were involved in Access Arts’ ‘Theorem’ at the Melbourne Concert Hall, an example of inclusive arts practice. The performance received broad public attention.