Leading Change (mid to late 2000s)

In 2005 Art Day South celebrates its tenth birthday. The theatre work The Past is under Glass is at Theatreworks in St Kilda.

A new partnership with Eastern Regional Mental Health Association (ERMHA) leads to creation of a mural at Casey Hospital, The Wall. The project became the subject of documentary screened on ABC TV. It also wins the inaugural Australian Arts and Health Foundation Award.

The Other Film Festival (TOFF) continues in 2006, 2008 and 2010. The 2006 festival screened 36 films over three days at the Melbourne Museum. TOFF doubled its funding and sponsorship. Films were audio described and captioned – a first for an Australian film festival.

Performers are moving to the front of a stage.

The Deaf Arts Network (DAN) receives funding and support from AAV to create a steering committee. By 2008 DAN’s Deaf Can Dance creates Sound of Silence. The show attracts sell-out audiences at the Melbourne Fringe Festival.

The Australia Council for the Arts (now Creative Australia) recognises Arts Access Victoria as a Key Producer (Community Partnerships).

In 2007 the Victorian Disability Act 2006 comes into force. In 2008 Australia ratifies the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

AAV was thinking about the law too. AAV created an accessible consent form for the arts sector. Raw Law launches in 2010 by prominent human rights lawyer, Julian Burnside. This legal resource is developed with Middletons Lawyers and Arts Law Centre of Australia.

In 2009 Australia makes a National Arts and Disability Strategy. It was also the year of Arts Access Victoria’s 35th birthday.