Latest news updates

Accessibility integral to Illegally Blind show

25 November 2021
Susan Williams’ not-so-solo show, Illegally Blind, explores their life experiences and is designed to be accessible in as many ways as possible. “The show is inherently accessible,” Susan says. “Audio description and subtitles aren’t just provided; they are an integral part of the performance for everyone present.” Read about Illegally Blind 

Waikato creative spaces to help address gap

10 November 2021
Findings from research about the creative spaces sector, conducted by Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage back in 2019, showed the need for more engagement and partnerships with Māori and Pacific communities. Four creative spaces in the Waikato region plan to help address that gap, thanks to three-year funding provided by the Government through Manatū Taonga’s Creative Spaces Initiative. Read more 

New Toi Ora director navigates COVID-19 challenges

5 November 2021
Toi Ora Live Art Trust’s new director, Susanne Ritzenhoff, has hit the ground running, navigating the challenges that COVID-19 poses for the Auckland creative space and its artists. When she joined the Toi Ora team in July, she was looking forward to working with staff and stakeholders to continue developing Toi Ora. And then in August, Auckland moved into level 4 lockdown. Read more 

Taking forum theatre to the masses

2 November 2021
Ruth Carraway’s dream of employing offenders and ex-offenders to take forum theatre to the masses came true earlier this year when she set up the Happy You...!! Theatre Company in Dunedin. Or rather, her dream moved several steps closer to becoming reality. Her ultimate goal is to “reach the masses” by touring the company and facilitating workshops in other communities around New Zealand. Read more 

Research creates new knowledge and leads to solutions

2 November 2021
"Research provides evidence, creates new knowledge and helps find solutions to problems. Take, for instance, the role of the arts in supporting the rehabilitation process of people in the justice system," writes Richard Benge in his latest blog. "At Arts Access Aotearoa, we’re convinced that high-quality Arts in Corrections programmes can play an important part in the rehabilitation and reintegration process." Read the blog 

Showcasing the talent of autistic artists

12 October 2021
A long-term partnership between autistic art collective iNDx and Otago Museum will provide Dunedin art lovers with the chance to experience diverse artworks by 30 autistic artists for the third year running. The exhibition runs from 13 October to 10 December in the museum’s Beautiful Science Gallery, which has digital projection facilities. Read more 

A career devoted to making the arts accessible

23 September 2021
Kelsey Hankins, who works as the gallery educator at Hastings City Art Gallery, has spent almost her entire career committed to improving accessibility in the arts sector. “When I studied for my Master of Museum and Heritage Practice degree, I honed in on this area and since then, I have tried to champion arts access in all the positions I’ve had,” she says. Read more