Audience & Industry Development

Girl 'signing' at Solid Rock event, 2001

Every year Arts Access Victoria handles over 12,000 requests for information.  Whether you are a professional artist with a disability on the lookout for opportunities, an individual searching for local art classes, or a performing arts venue or company needing guidance on access issues, Arts Access Victoria can provide you with advice on access.

For people with a disability access to arts and cultural events may be difficult due to the physical design of arts venues, lack of suitable services or facilities, lack of information and the cost of tickets.

Arts Access Victoria aims to increase the participation for people with a disability as audiences to arts and entertainment venues in Victoria.  We work with people with a disability, the arts industry and the disability sector via our Access Program on initiatives to improve access to arts venues, festivals and events.  The Access Program offers a range of services including: information provision, inclusive arts training, advice on disability action planning/policy development, resources (guidelines and toolkits), advocacy and the EASE Ticket Service.

Partnerships

The Access Program works with many other organisations and government bodies on venue access, audience development, addressing legislative issues and lobbying for improved access to the arts. We’ve provided advice to The Arts Centre, The Melbourne International Arts Festival, Arts Victoria, Australia Council for the Arts, Victoria Association of Performing Arts Centres (VAPAC), The Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Melbourne Fringe Festival, National Gallery of Victoria, ACMI, and recently the State Library of Victoria amongst others.

Accessible Seating Guidelines

We work in partnership with HREOC (Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission) and Victorian Network on Recreation and Disability (VICNORD) to establish guidelines on accessible seating and ticketing policies for arts, entertainment and sporting venues.

Vision Australia Partnership

Arts Access Victoria and Vision Australia advocate for and coordinate the provision of Audio Description, touch tours, tactile displays, information in alternate print formats and reserved seating for people who are blind or vision impaired.

VicDeaf & VCOD Partnership

We work with VicDeaf and VCOD (Victorian Council of Deaf People) in collaboration with Melbourne Theatre Company, Gasworks Theatre, Malthouse Theatre and a number of commercial presenters to provide sign interpreted performances for the Deaf community.

Training & Development

Disability Awareness Training

We run customised Disability Awareness Training for arts organisations, government bodies, community groups and venues.

Forums

We regularly hold industry forums with special guest speakers and panels. Recent forums have included ‘A Future Presence’ with UK artists Ju Gosling and Julie Newman, November 2009.

Enquiries

For further information, or to discuss any aspect of the arts and access, please contact the  Access Program Manager, on Tel 03 9699 8299, TTY 03 9699 7636 or Email info@artsaccess.com.au