20 January 2014

Information sessions for artists with disability

The Australia Council for the Arts will hold information sessions across the country from this month about its new funding program for artists with disability.
Australia Council Chief Executive Officer Tony Grybowski said the new funding program had been developed after extensive consultation with the sector, including Arts Access Australia, and was launched along with other initiatives to mark the International Day of People with Disability on 3 December. The Australia Council has been reviewing its funding programs in response to the Australia Council Review, our new legislation and significant sector consultation over the past two years, Mr Grybowski said. It was timely we re-examined support for artists with disability and Im delighted we were able to allocate $300,000 to support the new Artists with Disability Program, enabling more Australian artists with disability to create, develop, present, produce, exhibit and tour their work. This will run as a pilot program in the first half of this year and will then be reviewed. Individuals and groups who identify as having disability, including deaf artists, can apply for grants of up to $10,000 for development and up to $20,000 for arts projects. Applications close 3 March and program guidelines are available on the Australia Councils website. Information sessions will be held in partnership with state and territory arts agencies and the peak arts and disability bodies at the following locations: State Cinema, North Hobart on Friday 24 January from 5.30pm to 6.45pm. Access Arts, New Farm, Brisbane on Monday, 3 February from 2pm to 4pm. Arts Access Victoria, Melbourne on Wednesday, 5 February from 2pm to 4pm. Department of Culture and the Arts, Perth on Friday, 7 February from 4.30pm to 6pm. Adelaide City Library on Tuesday, 11 February from 3pm to 5.30pm. The Australia Council, Sydney on Friday, 14 February from 2pm to 3.30pm. Canberra on Wednesday, 19 February from 12.30 to 1.30pm. Arts NT, Darwin on Friday, 21 February from 9am to 10.30am. Penrith Library on Friday, 21 February from 10am to noon. Bookings are essential. To book and for more information on these sessions go to: www.australiacouncil.gov.au/disability An online Q & A session will also be held on Friday, 24 January from 4pm to 5pm via Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/191605741035734/ Other initiatives to be implemented include an accessible application process across all future Australia Council funding programs and the ability to submit applications in a range of formats. The Councils Disability Action Plan for 2014-2016 has been finalised and was published in December. It features a number of strategies that will be embedded across the organisation over the next three years and demonstrates the Councils commitment to this area. The new plan focuses on leadership, accessibility and arts practice and builds on the Australia Councils previous work in the area of disability. Highlights include developing a disability employment strategy, a leadership program for artists and arts workers with disability and a focus on including more peers with disability on assessment panels.

Media contact Karen Smith 02 9215 9030 | 0498 123 541 k.smith@australiacouncil.gov.au

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The Australia Council for the Arts is the Australian Governments arts funding and advisory body