First keynote speaker revealed for Meeting Place 2019

Dr Cachia will deliver the first keynote address at the disability-led forum, speaking at the National Gallery of Australia on 2 December. The address will draw from Dr Cachia’s recent work Automatisme Ambulatoir, which explores how ‘hysterical’ gestures can work to subvert, undo, transform and re-imagine the disabled body and language.

Dr Cachia, who has curated more than 40 exhibitions and is an Assistant Professor of Art History at Moreno Valley College in California, said she was “really honoured” to be invited to speak at Meeting Place.

“Disability-led events such as Meeting Place are so important as they provide a space for like-minded folks to get together, network, exchange stories, ideas, and consider modes for improvement,” she said. “I’m excited to share stories through my presentation at the forum about how to instil a sense of disability leadership within artistic and cultural organisations through a creative access practice.”

Following her keynote address, Dr Cachia will be joined by a panel of local and national leaders, including actor Michelle McDonald and Lieutenant Colonel Geoff Grey, for a discussion on this year’s theme for Meeting Place: Leadership, Identity and Pride.

Ms Meagan Shand, CEO of Arts Access Australia (AAA) – the non-profit body responsible for delivering the annual Meeting Place forum – said she was delighted to welcome Dr Cachia onto the program.

“Dr Cachia holds a wealth of experience in exhibition curation, with many of these exhibitions engaging contemporary art in exploring the politics of disability. I would like to acknowledge the National Gallery of Australia for supporting Meeting Place and look forward to seeing what emerges from the conversation on this year’s theme,” Ms Shand said.

The Meeting Place 2019 theme ‘Leadership, Identity and Pride’ emerged from consultation with key stakeholders in Canberra. The three-day Meeting Place program will respond to this theme and features some of Australia’s most culturally ambitious artists with disability.

Registrations are now open for Meeting Place 2019, which takes place 1 to 3 December in leading arts and cultural venues across Canberra and is expected to attract around 200 local, national and international arts and cultural leaders, artists and arts workers.

Meeting Place is the signature event of AAA, the national peak body advocating for the rights of people with disability in the arts. This year, AAA is partnering with local organisation Belconnen Arts Centre to host the event.

Media contact

Yvette Tulloch

Communications Manager, Arts Access Australia

Email: media@artsaccessaustralia.org