Foreward peak body organisations Arts Access Victoria opportunities for people with and During the past two • such as Arts Access without a disability to access Arts Action (Tasmania) decades in Australia, social • Australia (AAA). In addition, Access2Arts (SA) professional development in inclusion • the work of all of the dance DADAA (WA) in the arts has provided • contributors to this Arts Access Darwin (NT) through attending workshops, opportunities for participants • publication Arts Access Central Australia masterclasses and public living with a disability to • (Alice forums. These projects include engage meaningfully in Springs) the Arts and many others not identified programs that range across Activated Conference’s Beyond Technique searching Access Arts (Queensland). the art forms. In Andrew in Positive/Negative, have – • for authenticity workshops played a role. Morrish’s introduction he (2010), the Dance Symposium challenges the reader to For dance, in particular, there This activity has increased the (2011) and the Catalyst Dance is is has been a steady growth in ask, “What dance?”, “What visibility of people with a Masterclass Series (2012, 2013). activity across the country. and is disability?” “What disability who are engaging in and since this first Adelaide-based Restless integration?” artistic endeavours, and has Dance Theatre (where I was As a result of this increase in edition there have been many contributed to the cultural shift activity we are now seeing developments across the Artistic Director 2009-2012) in our national identity. For the continues to develop its many young people with a sector. main part it disability emerging from their national profile while working has promoted inclusivity and Significant opportunities have in an integrated environment teens and early adulthood arisen for people with a changed people’s perceptions contributing where young and of others living differently. disability to have their voices emerging and professional to this cultural shift in dance. heard through the work of a Organisations across the artists work collaboratively to Exciting new relationships are number country that are working to create exceptional quality being formed and continue to of agencies and individuals. increase access and dance. be nurtured especially through There has been ongoing participation for people living the ongoing work of More recently, a spike in support from the Australia with a disability are: Accessible Arts initiatives Council and state-funding dance activity at Accessible managed by Accessible Arts (NSW) Arts in programs as • Arts Developemnt Officer Art Ability (ACT) NSW has provided well as the dedication of •
Foreward During the past two decades in Australia, social inclusion in the arts has provided opportunities for participants living with a disability to engage meaningfully in programs that range across the art forms. In Andrew Morrish’s introduction he challenges the reader to ask, “What is dance?”, “What is disability?” and “What is integration?” and since this first edition there have been many developments across the sector. Significant opportunities have arisen for people with a disability to have their voices heard through the work of a number of agencies and individuals. There has been ongoing support from the Australia Council and state-funding programs as well as the dedication of peak body organisations such as Arts Access Australia (AAA). In addition, the work of all of the contributors to this publication and many others not identified in Positive/Negative, have played a role. This activity has increased the visibility of people with a disability who are engaging in artistic endeavours, and has contributed to the cultural shift in our national identity. For the main part it has promoted inclusivity and changed people’s perceptions of others living differently. Organisations across the country that are working to increase access and participation for people living with a disability are: • Accessible Arts (NSW) • Art Ability (ACT) • Arts Access Victoria • Arts Action (Tasmania) • Access2Arts (SA) • DADAA (WA) • Arts Access Darwin (NT) • Arts Access Central Australia (Alice Springs) • Access Arts (Queensland). For dance, in particular, there has been a steady growth in activity across the country. Adelaide-based Restless Dance Theatre (where I was Artistic Director 2009-2012) continues to develop its national profile while working in an integrated environment where young and emerging and professional artists work collaboratively to create exceptional quality dance. More recently, a spike in dance activity at Accessible Arts in NSW has provided opportunities for people with and without a disability to access professional development in dance through attending workshops, masterclasses and public forums. These projects include the Arts Activated Conference’s Beyond Technique – searching for authenticity workshops (2010), the Dance Symposium (2011) and the Catalyst Dance Masterclass Series (2012, 2013). As a result of this increase in activity we are now seeing many young people with a disability emerging from their teens and early adulthood contributing to this cultural shift in dance. Exciting new relationships are being formed and continue to be nurtured especially through the ongoing work of Accessible Arts initiatives managed by Arts Developemnt Officer
Accessible-Arts-Positive-Negative-.docx