Audience & Industry Development

Many people are unable to access arts and cultural events as audience members due to the physical design of arts venues, lack of suitable services or facilities, lack of information about events and access and high ticket prices.

The Access Program aims to improve access to Victoria’s arts and culture for people with disabilities and people who are Deaf. We offer inclusive arts training, advice on disability action planning and policy development, project modelling, 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 have provided advice to the 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 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, and three important industry events in September 2008 with international guest speaker Betty Siegel, Director of Accessibility at the Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts Washington DC. Betty offered advice and presented models of best practice for management, front of house and ticketing staff, to a range of arts industry representative agencies.

Enquiries

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