Matthew Does Art is an exciting solo exhibition by Warrnambool artist Matthew Clarke.

OPENING: THURSDAY 5 AUGUST, 6PM *ALL WELCOME!*

Clarke presents for the first time, a solo show of his work in the heart of Melbourne at City Library Gallery.

Matthew Clarke is not your average artist. His trademark paintings use vivid combinations of paint, colour and text – these are confident, figurative works which let us in to a unique world/self view. His paintings are up-front examinations of self identity in seemingly artificially flavoured worlds. This exhibition comes after a string of group exhibitions in regional Victoria.

Clarke funded the project in the only way artists know how – through ingenuity, hard work and a little bit of luck. Unable to save money on his meagre disability pension, Clarke spent most of last summer selling his works through a market stall at the Port Fairy Market. With strong interest in his work resulting in improved sales, Clarke found his dream of a solo exhibition was almost in sight. But the real clincher was a chance win on the pokies. Clarke, for whom playing poker machines is not a regular pastime, is quick to assure his fans that painting remains his most important passion. But his situation does highlight that most important of questions; where can artists go for financial support to realize their dreams, particularly artists with disabilities or mental health issues who face enormous barriers in accessing funding opportunities in the mainstream arts world?

Exhibition Details The Gallery @ City Library, 253 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Wednesday 4 August to Friday 27 August – open daily FREE

Opening Thursday 5 August, 6pm – All Welcome!

A Short Word on Matthew’s Art

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Recently, I was fortunate enough to be interviewed on local radio about some of my experiences with mental illness but it wasn’t doom and gloom! On the contrary – lots of laughs and sprinkled with plenty of original music. Phil Heuzenroeder who runs the Music Network for Mental Health and the Bipolar bears band was also with me in the studio – it was such a fantastic time. It would be such a waste to let it all go into the ether, as I’m sure other people would really benefit from what happened in the show.

We work really hard at bringing a positive and hopeful face to mental illness, so I want to share this podcast with the AAV audience too!

Click here to listen to the podcast

Check out the story on 88.3 Southern FM here

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TO DO THIS, WE NEED YOUR HELP. We have designed a survey to find out what sessions and events you would like to attend in 2010.

To tell us which sessions you would like to see interpreted, fill out our survey  by following these steps:

1. Read the program guide carefully – you can check out the Festival program guide online at www.mwf.com.au/program
2. Select your preferred sessions or event
3. Enter your preferences in our survey – www.mwf.com.au/survey
4. All surveys must be completed by Friday 6 August

Based on your selections Melbourne Writers Festival will allocate interpreters according to the most requested sessions.  These interpreted sessions will be clearly marked on the website after that date.

Once we advise which sessions will be interpreted, you can buy your tickets.

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Deaf Can Write Workshop

Are you interested in the workshop Deaf Can Write?
Friday 27 August, 1 – 5pm at The Wheeler Centre

Click here for full details

We look forward to receiving your input with great interest and welcome your participation in the Melbourne Writers Festival 2010.

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In the past the Festival has pre-selected specific events, in consultation with Arts Access, to be AUSLAN interpreted or Audio Described.  But this year the Festival has opened up the entire program and you can request which performances you’d like to experience with an AUSLAN interpreter or with Audio Description.

To assist in planning these activities you will need to fill out a simple request form and return it to MIAF by 20 August.

DOWNLOAD THE AUSLAN & AUDIO DESCRIPTION REQUEST FORM (PDF)

Alternatively, contact n-able@melbournefestival.com.au for a request form to be emailed to you.

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AUSLAN -

View a video with AUSLAN interpreting of the request procedure here

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AUDIO DESCRIPTION -

Listen to an audio version of the request procedure by clicking on the link below:

Audio Description Services Request Procedure

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For detailed access information visit our website www.melbournefestival.com.au/access.

For the full 2010 Festival program guide visit www.melbournefestival.com.au

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The Melbourne International Film Festival is committed to improving access for all, by providing a range of accessible services and facilities as part of our Access Initiative.

In 2010, we’re proud to announce the inclusion (for the first time at MIFF!) of Open Captioned films, with AUSLAN Interpreters engaged to facilitate Intro/Q&A sessions.

The Deaf Community will also be able to participate in public conversations with the cult filmmaker, director Joe Dante, and accomplished author and opinion maker Germaine Greer. This year, MIFF has programmed more special screenings at cinemas that enable greater accessibility. There are now eleven screens, showing a total of 230 films that are wheelchair accessible. For detailed access information, and to download PDF versions of
specific access schedules, please visit our website at www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au/access or download the information in PDF format -

MIFF2010_AUSLAN events and OC films (pdf)

MIFF2010_Assistive listening films (pdf)

MIFF2010_Subtitled films (pdf)

MIFF2010_Wheelchair access films (pdf)

We welcome your comments, questions and feedback –

In cinemas across the country we will see a significant rise in the level of access created through a commitment to technical innovation. This will result in more than 240 cinema screens throughout Australia becoming accessible to people who are deaf, or have hearing impairments, and people who are blind or who have visual impairments.

In partnership with government, the four major cinema groups – Hoyts Corporation, Greater Union Organisation, Village Cinemas and Reading Cinemas – will be investing in technical upgrades in cinemas across Australia to improve cinema access for many more Australians.

With the support of the newly-formed Accessible Cinema Advisory Group (ACAG), the four major cinema chains have combined to propose a rollout of accessible cinema technology according to a 4 year plan. By the end of 2014 captions and audio description will be available in at least one screen in every one of the 132 cinema complex run by these operators.

In addition, captions and audio description will be available in:

• one screen for every complex with 6 or less screens
• two screens for every complex with 7 to 12 screens
• three screens for every complex with 13 or more screens

This initiative will deliver a total of 242 accessible screens across Australia.

This outcome marks a decisive victory for the Action on Cinema Access campaign which formed in December 2009 to fight for equal access in cinemas. With a current situation of less than 0.3% of all screenings nationally (that’s 100 out of 41,000 weekly screenings) providing captioning and audio-description, Action on Cinema Access campaigners were determined to send the message that this level of access was simply not good enough.

Action on Cinema Access, supported by Arts Access Victoria and its flagship disability film festival The Other Film Festival, mounted a robust grass roots national campaign and protest against the cinemas’ application for exemption resulting in a staggering 450 responses to the Australian Human Rights Commission. This is the highest number of responses ever generated by a campaign. This landmark decision demonstrates the power of a dedicated group of citizens to bring about change in support of their rights.

We extend our congratulations to the peak representative bodies Blind Citizens Australia, Deaf Australia and Deafness Forum of Australia for their tireless lobbying on behalf of consumers and our thanks to Bill Shorten for his unfailing commitment to advancing the rights of people with a disability in Australia.

Dean Barton-Smith, national spokesperson for Action on Cinema Access said:

“Everyone who took part in our national campaign over the past eight months, should be commended for actively engaging with this issue and sending a strong message to the cinema industry that access is not a privilege but a right. Their voice was heard.

“Whilst the level of access in the roll out plan is significantly improved from the initial cinema proposal, critical work begins for the Advisory Group to consult with the community regarding accessible technologies to ensure Australians with a disability, their family and friends can have a positive and rewarding movie experience. Exciting times ahead.”

As the rollout commences, we will be an ongoing forum consumers about accessible cinema. The next phase of the Action on Cinema Access campaign will be to gather community feedback about the new access technology that will be trialled. We urge consumers to test the new technology by attending screenings and providing feedback via our online portal.

The Other Film Festival has played an instrumental role in the Cinema Access campaign, will be presenting its own fully accessible cinema experience, 25 – 29 August at The Age Theatre, Melbourne Museum. If you are a lover of open captions and audio description, make this event a must do!

This year, the Festival features an exciting forum on access to cinema, Cinema Futura on Friday 27 August, 12pm at Melbourne Museum. Continuing the festival’s commitment of improving cinema access everywhere, this year’s forum will bring you up to speed on the latest access developments in mainstream cinema. If you are a person who is Deaf, hard of hearing, legally blind, have a vision impairment or you simply just love going to the movies, this forum is the place for you. It’s free – don’t miss it.

For further information find us on Facebook.

Take a sneak peek at The 2010 Other Film Festival program here

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European Masters: Städel Museum, 19th–20th Century brings together a remarkable collection of masterpieces from the Städel Museum in Frankfurt, one of the finest collections in Europe. The NGV is truly privileged to host this exhibition, as the Städel have committed only the highlights of its renowned collection of 19th and 20th century European art. Alongside masterpieces by German artists are works by the greatest French, Belgian, Dutch and Swiss masters of the time.

This is an unprecedented opportunity to see a spectacular array of the finest European art spanning the dynamic and transformative years of the 19th and 20th century.

Access Tours of Exhibition

Visual Describing
Jul, 4 Aug & 1 Sep, 3pm
Exhibition entry fees apply. Adult $23.00, Concession $18.00, Children $11.00, Family $60.00, Member $16.00

Auslan Interpreted
Wed 28 Jul, 25 Aug & 29 Sep, 11am
On these select dates, an Auslan interpreter will join the weekday Voluntary Guide Tour.
Exhibition entry fees apply. Adult $23.00, Concession $18.00, Children $11.00, Family $60.00, Member $16.00

Auslan Interpreted Introductory Talks
Sun 25 Jul, 29 Aug & 26 Sep, 12.30pm
Enjoy an illustrated introduction to the exhibition with Auslan interpretation.
Cost $29 Adult / $22 NGV Member / $24 Concession (includes exhibition fee)
Venue Clemenger BBDO Auditorium, NGV International

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NGV is wheelchair accessible and accepts companion cards

A program for women with mild to moderate disabilities aged 18 to 50 yrs. Get creative in workshops such as drumming, dance, singing, yoga arts and crafts.

The program will be facilitated by professional musicians at The African Drumming Centre in St Kilda. Participants must live in the City of Port Phillip, Glen Eira, Bayside or Stonnington with a parent or carer.

Limited places are available so please register soon to avoid missing out!

Where African Drumming Centre 12 Grey Street, St Kilda
When Starts Wednesday 14 July. Program runs every Wednesday during day service terms from 4.30pm to 6pm.
Cost $70 for each 7 week term
For further information call Bianca at JCAAA on 9209 6753

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ATOD’s agreement with AAV will see it come under the auspices of the Deaf Arts Network and will be permanently located at AAV with its own rehearsal and performance space.

“ATOD’s agreement with AAV is founded on a mutual desire to reinvigorate deaf theatre in Australia,” says Andrew Wiltshire, Chairman of ATOD. “After thirty years of performances it is time for ATOD to take a new direction. Working with AAV and the Deaf Arts Network, we can further broaden the opportunities for deaf expression and deaf participation in the arts.”

Veronica Pardo, Arts Access Victoria’s Executive Director, adds “For some time we have recognised the need for a professional deaf theatre company in Victoria, and this partnership with ATOD allows us to build on its strong reputation for innovative performance. ATOD will continue to provide a vibrant avenue of expression for Australia’s AUSLAN community, as well as offering mainstream audiences the opportunity to engage with deaf stories and deaf experiences.”

From 2011 ATOD will enter into a period of regeneration, focussing on the professional development of a number of talented deaf actors. This will include collaborations with a variety of arts companies. These residencies and mentorships are designed to further equip ATOD’s actors to take their stories to mainstream arts audiences.

An Auslan translation of this media release is available on YouTube HERE

If you have any enquiries, please email Arts Access Victoria at communications@artsaccess.com.au

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