Introducing Arts For All

This is an Arts Access Aotearoa/Creative New Zealand partnership programme inspired by Arts for All: opening doors to disabled people. The aim of this programme is to encourage arts organisations, venues and producers to improve their access to disabled audiences.

Since the programme was established in 2011, Arts Access Aotearoa has set up networks in Wellington, Otago and Taranaki. These networks, made up of representatives from the disability sector, arts organisations and venues, meet throughout the year to gain insights, seek advice, and share information and resources.

In Auckland, Arts Access Aotearoa has set up an arts advocacy group, with funding from the Ministry of Social Development’s Think Differently Campaign. 

Consulting in Christchurch

Arts Access Aotearoa is also consulting with the disability and arts communities in Christchurch about how best it can support their accessibility planning and initiatives.

Richard Benge, Executive Director, Arts Access Aotearoa, says the programme has gathered momentum around the country and is resulting in improved access for disabled people.

“It’s been extremely valuable to take the Arts For All programme around the country and engage with local councils, the professional arts sector and disability advocacy groups,” he says.                        

Creative New Zealand sponsors the Big ‘A’ Creative New Zealand Arts for All Award, recognising an arts organisation or company that has demonstrated its commitment to developing its audiences by becoming more accessible to the disabled community.

The inaugural award was presented to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Plymouth 2011. And In 2012, the recipient was WOMAD New Zealand, also from New Plymouth.

This year's recipient will be announced at the Big 'A' Awards ceremony in Parliament in July.

Other Arts For All activities include:

• eleven one-off Creative New Zealand grants, administered by Arts Access Aotearoa, for projects aimed at improving their accessibility. The organisations gave presentations about the results of their projects in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin in late 2012.
• a survey of arts organisations and their accessibility to diverse audiences.
  
  

Read more about Arts For All: increasing access and building new audiences.