Leadership initiatives to be funded through new Annual Giving Program

The two projects will provide exceptional artists and arts-workers with disability with professional development, networking and leadership opportunities that they otherwise could not access or afford.

To kick off the inaugural appeal, Arts Access Australia has set a $20,000 fundraising goal to achieve by 31 May 2019. Creative Partnerships Australia has thrown their support behind this fundraising goal by committing to match all donations dollar for dollar through their Plus1 Funding initiative. And thanks to a significant donation by the Feilman Foundation and a number of other supporters, Arts Access Australia is already over halfway toward reaching its target.

In her speech at the launch event, Arts Access Australia’s CEO Ms Meagan Shand spoke about the importance of investing in upskilling artists and arts-workers with disability, saying that now was the time to act.

“We are at a significant point of reform in Australia,” Ms Shand said. “The National Disability Insurance Scheme is changing the way people with disability get the support and access they need – models are changing from ‘charity to empowerment’ from ‘pity to leadership’. We also have one of the youngest leaders with disability in Parliament – Senator Jordon Steele-John – who is moving people with disability across Australia to action.”

“The role of leadership for change cannot be underestimated. It is these role models that show us the way, they are our beacon of hope; they show us what is possible, they inspire us to keep going, to keep moving, to keep fighting for what’s rightfully ours.”

Making a special appearance at the launch was WA actress and disability advocate Julia Hales. Julia’s hit playYou Know We Belong Together debuted at the Perth Festival in 2018 and returned for a season at the WA State Theatre this year, receiving a standing ovation every night.

The play was the result of a collaboration between DADAA, the Black Swan State Theatre Company and the Perth Festival. But the venture really had its beginnings back in 2015, when Julia was accepted into the Australia Council for the Arts’ SYNC Leadership Program – a program for cultural leaders and influencers with disability. The program has since been de-funded.

“[After the program] I was very clear in what I wanted to do,” said Julia. “I wanted to change the world to make it better and to make a difference. I wanted to help other people with all sorts of disabilities to experience the same thing I had with SYNC. I wanted them to get clear about what they want in their artistic careers.”

Fired up after attending the leadership program, she created the project Finding Love  – a series of short interviews of exploring what love meant to her and to her interview subjects.

“DADAA mentored me to apply for Meeting Place’s ‘Pitch to Producers’,” said Julia. As part of her pitch, she screened the Finding Love interviews to an audience which happened to include the then Artistic Director of the Perth Festival, Wendy Martin.

Wendy loved the interviews and introduced Julia to Clare Watson from Black Swan State Theatre Company. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Julia is still amazed and thankful for the opportunity: “My story shows how powerful mentoring can be for artists with disability.”

The launch was held on 1 May 2019 at the Old Boys School in Fremantle, WA, with the support of state-based arts and disability organisation DADAA. In addition to Julia Hales’ artist talk, the audience was also treated to a selection of short films curated by DADAA. A huge thank you to the event’s sponsors, including Sandalford Wines, Prendiville Group and Old Bridge Cellars for donating the wine, Circus WA for donating the punch, and Oxlades Art Supplies for donating the door prize.

Find out more about supporting Arts Access Australia through a once-off donation or joining the Annual Giving Program.