Local councils in Western Sydney have banded together with local cultural, and arts and disability organisations to create opportunities for people with disabilities in accessing the arts. This is a reaction to the latest statistics from Accessible Arts NSW that revealed a large number of Australians with disabilities live in the Western Sydney area, with 23 per cent of the population requiring access needs. Issues such as a lack of affordable and accessible transport to and from arts venues are the major barriers contributing to the community participating in creative programs. Given that approximately 10 per cent of all Australian live in Western Sydney, these access barriers to the arts are a serious concern.

Penrith City Council’s Neighbourhood Renewal Program has addressed the issue by providing inclusive and accessible arts opportunities for local communities with a focus on particular suburbs and rural localities that are disadvantaged. Programs include Parkour + Krump Summer Series offering workshops in Parkour, Krump and Hip Hop dance in partnership with Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE), Penrith Local Artists Network, and the Artist + Community Toolkit Workshop Series, a 6 part Community Cultural Development workshop series featuring “An Inclusive Approach “ presented by Accessible Arts and the Mixed Abilities Ensemble.

Ben Felten, Penrith City Council’s Aged and Disability Services Officer said at a recent Accessing the Arts Group (ATAG) meeting that "over the last year, projects like the Neighbourhood Renewal Program and work by Accessible Arts has increased opportunities for people with a disability in the arts in Penrith."

Accessible Arts, the peak arts and disability body in NSW, have a specifically assigned Western Sydney Team to also address these issues. They are currently working with 11 local government areas across Western Sydney and have delivered a number of workshops and creative opportunities to people in the area. The upcoming puppetry workshops at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre will form one part of an Open Workshop Program for people with a disability to be delivered in Penrith, Hawkesbury and Blacktown. Sancha Donald, CEO of Accessible Arts stated, "we are pleased to be able to respond to the arts and disability needs that exist in Western Sydney. Much more needs to be done to break down the barriers to participation in the arts by people with a disability.”

Naomi McCarthy, the Manager, Education and Public Programs at the Penrith Regional Gallery said of their recent exhibition, “The exhibition For Matthew and Others, Journeys with schizophrenia, presented the art of artists living with schizophrenia in a regional gallery context,”
This exhibition was part of the gallery’s commitment to access in providing an insight into mental health issues through art. The gallery also offers specifically developed free sensory tours for each exhibition so visitors with a disability can engage and explore artworks using sensory elements. Free audio described tours are also available for each exhibition for visitors with vision impairments.

With an increasing number of access issues being identified in the Western Sydney area, a free keynote presentation will be held at Parramatta Riverside Theatre on September 3rd 2008 - Good Practice or the Goods Lift? Catalyst or chasm….
It will be led by Betty Siegel, Director of Accessibility at the Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts, Washington, United States and funded by the Australia Council for the Arts. Betty has twenty years experience in delivering accessible programs and policies in the arts industry and coordinates the well-recognized Leadership Exchange for Arts and Disability (LEAD) Conference each year.

The room for the recent ATAG and Western Sydney meeting was kindly provided by the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre (JSPAC).

For further information about the activities of Accessing the Arts Group Members (ATAG), please contact:

Alison McLaren at Accessible Arts by 02 9251 6499 ext.6 or amclaren@aarts.net.au.
Media contact: Nadia de Ceglie 0414 741 089 ndeceglie@aarts.net.au.
Website: www.aarts.net.au

About Accessible Arts

Accessible Arts is the peak arts and disability organisation across New South Wales. Accessible Arts promotes and provides opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in arts and cultural activities either as audience members; through attending galleries, theatres, museums and festivals; or as participants in art, drama, music, dance and multimedia activities; and by developing as professional artists. Over the years Accessible Arts has worked in assisting arts organisations such as Sydney Opera House, Sydney Art Fair, Sydney Writers Festival, Sydney Theatre Company and Sydney Film Festival. To keep up to date with upcoming news and arts events subscribe to the free Accessible Arts monthly newsletter.

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