COVID-19 updates and resources

Arts Access Aotearoa is here to take your calls, emails and inquiries, and support you in any way we can. Arts Access Aotearoa’s physical office is closed but all staff are still at work online. Network and community meetings are postponed until further notice.

We've created a special section aimed at supporting the people and organisations we work with: in particular, the Deaf and disabled communities, the Creative Spaces Network, the Arts For All Network and the Arts in Corrections Network. We welcome your feedback about what you would like to see here and anything you've seen that you would like to share with your colleagues. Be strong. Be Kind We will be OK. For more about COVID-19

ARTS ACCESS APPLAUSE: Arts Access Aotearoa presented an Arts Access Applause certificate to Emma Deakin, Accessibility, Community and Education Manager for the New Zealand Festival of the Arts as this year's event drew to a close. Emma and colleague Ruby did an amazing job, taking the Festival's accessibility and inclusion to a new level. The NZ Festival is a member of the Arts For All Wellington Network. For more info about the national Arts For All Network 

Latest news updates

Michael Krammer’s dance journey

18 March 2020
"I can be myself. With dance, there is no right and wrong,” says Christchurch dancer Michael Krammer, a founding member of Jolt in Christchurch and an assistant tutor with Arts Integrated since 2014. Michael describes his 19 years with Jolt as “an incredible journey”. He’s performed in most of Jolt’s major shows and performances.  Sometimes I feel nervous but I just pretend there is no audience and then I can dance." Read more

Keeping your Arts in Corrections programme on track

27 February 2020
"It’s the beginning of the year and a great time to think about ways to assess your Arts in Corrections programme and keep it on track," writes Chris Ulutupu, Arts in Corrections Advisor for Arts Access Aotearoa. "Whether you’ve just started on this journey or you’ve been delivering your art programmes in prisons for the past 20 years, I’ve come up with five things that will help ensure your programme is robust, safe and successful." Read more 

Women at the centre of Home Ground creativity programme

27 February 2020
A programme designed by and for its participants is using the arts and creativity to address the challenges faced by women in New Zealand’s justice system and their whānau. The success of Kahukura, a two-week pilot project held in June 2019, has resulted in the delivery of the Home Ground programme and three projects – with a fourth due to happen in Wellington later this year. Read more

Actor features in play about growing up with Down syndrome

4 February 2020
Lily Harper and her friends are proud to present Up Down Girl from 28 February to 1 March at The Globe Theatre in Palmerston North. In this new, local adaptation, based on the British play Up Down Boy by Sue Shields, Lily draws on her own life experiences to tell the tale of 19 year old Mattie Baker as she prepares to leave for college. Read more

Auckland Fringe play to flip perceptions about disability

30 January 2020
An inclusive cast of performers with and without disabilities will take to TAPAC’s stage to showcase a new work by Charlotte Nightingale at Auckland Fringe from 28 February to 1 March. The Incredible and Glorious World According to The Fitzroys was written to provide roles for disabled performers – in particular for young actor Daniel Nielson, who has autism. Read more