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An Arts Access Aotearoa programme, supported by Creative New Zealand and encouraging arts organisations and venues to improve their access to disabled audiences, is gathering momentum as it moves beyond Wellington.

An Arts Access Aotearoa programme, supported by Creative New Zealand and encouraging arts organisations and venues to improve their access to disabled audiences, is gathering momentum as it moves beyond Wellington.

Richard Benge, Executive Director, Arts Access Aotearoa, says the publication Arts for All: opening doors to disabled people has inspired a programme of engagement with local councils, starting with Wellington City Council.

“We’re excited about taking the Arts For All programme around the country and bringing local councils, the professional arts sector and disability advocacy groups on board,” he says.

In partnership with the Wellington City Council, Arts Access Aotearoa has established the Arts For All Wellington Network. This network, made up of representatives from the disability sector, arts organisations and venues, meets throughout the year to gain insights, seek advice, and share information and resources.

Accessibility action plans and policies

“The main aim of the network is for the member organisations to develop accessibility action plans and policies,” Richard says.

“There is a real commitment and enthusiasm within the Wellington network to improving access and it’s a model we will offer to other councils. From now until the end of the year, we will engage with councils in Auckland, New Plymouth, Dunedin and Nelson.”

Creative New Zealand published Arts For All in partnership with Arts Access Aotearoa in late 2009. This year, Creative New Zealand also sponsored the inaugural Creative New Zealand Arts for All Award, recognising an arts organisation or company that had developed its audience by going to extraordinary lengths to become more accessible to the disabled community.

The award was presented to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Plymouth. The judging panel said that the gallery’s commitment to accessibility was underpinned by the New Plymouth District Council’s Disability Strategy. The strategy and the way the gallery incoporated it into its planning and processes was “an example of best practice that gave the Govett-Brewster the edge”.

Earlier this year, the Arts For All Wellington Network members gathered for a one-day forum on the topic of marketing their arts events to disabled people. This month, members are participating in a series of five discussion groups. These are based around the theme of building new audiences by consulting and communicating effectively with the disability sector, and problem-solving among the arts organisations.

Series of discussion groups

At the first discussion group last week, 20 participants took part in an Arts For All group discussion about developing a vision impaired or blind audience. The second discussion group this week focused on developing a Deaf  and hearing impaired audience.

As the publication Arts For All stresses, it’s vital to consult with the disability sector from the outset. “If you’re serious about wanting to open your doors to disabled people, consultation is an important first step … Talk – and listen – to individuals and find out about their requirements.”

Pippa Sanderson, Community Development Advisor, Arts Access Aotearoa, works with Kirsten Kelly, City Arts, Wellington City Council to develop the network and strengthen communications between its members.

‘We consistently get feedback from the network saying how valuable it is to have people from the disability sector as participating members,” Pippa says. “They provide insightful answers to questions that are asked about issues of access, and the conversational format promotes relationship building and clear understanding.”

Touch tour and audio description

Circa Theatre, a member of the Arts For All Wellington Network, is providing a touch tour and audio-described performance of Roger Hall’s Four Flat Whites in Italy, starting at 1.15pm on Wednesday 5 October.

Cara Hill, Audience Development Director, Circa Theatre, says that being involved in the Arts for All programme and network has been a valuable experience.

“It has been so important for Circa Theatre in helping to ensure our facilities, productions and website are accessible for all audiences,” she says. “We have learned so much from the workshops, network forums and discussion groups.”

Other recent projects that are improving access to arts events include:

• SIGNAL, a new programme at The Edge in Auckland, providing audio-described and signed performances
• an audio-described performance of Awhi Tapu at Downstage Theatre, Wellington, July 2011
• regular sign language-interpreted tours of exhibitions at City Gallery Wellington, led by Deaf interpreter Theresa Cooper.

Over 2011 to 2013, Arts Access Aotearoa will establish Arts For All networks in five major cities and four regions.