A dancer challenging perceptions about who can dance, a festival building new audiences in Deaf and disabled communities, a photography project connecting young people with their community, and leadership in Arts in Corrections were among those recognised at Te Putanga Toi Arts Access Awards 2018.

Presented by Arts Access Aotearoa at Parliament and hosted by Hon Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Disability Issues, the awards celebrated individuals and organisations increasing access to and participation in the arts across Aotearoa.

Eight recipients were recognised across artistic achievement, accessible arts, creative spaces, community partnerships, media and Arts in Corrections.

Arts Access Accolade 2018

Beth Hill, Northland

Beth Hill, programme leader for arts, self-directed learning and living skills at Northland Region Corrections Facility, received the Arts Access Accolade for her longstanding support of Arts Access Aotearoa and her commitment to providing access to the arts for people in prison.

Unlike the other awards, the Accolade was selected by Arts Access Aotearoa’s staff and board. Beth was recognised for consistently pushing boundaries and creating opportunities for ambitious arts projects within a prison environment.

Arts Access Aotearoa Executive Director Richard Benge described Beth as courageous in her collaborations with the organisation, saying her work had helped its Arts in Corrections programme develop and grow.

“Beth has been courageous in her collaborations with Arts Access Aotearoa and has taken many leaps of faith to make our projects succeed beyond what we thought was possible for the performing arts and for the provision of access to the arts in a prison environment.

Richard Benge

Arts Access Holdsworth Creative Space Award 2018

Ōtautahi Creative Spaces, Christchurch

Ōtautahi Creative Spaces was recognised for supporting artists on their pathways to mental health and wellbeing through creativity.

The organisation was also acknowledged for its innovative programmes, strong community partnerships and leadership in providing evidence-based research demonstrating the outcomes and value of creative spaces.

Highly Commended: Touch Compass, Auckland, for its pioneering role in integrated dance and challenging perceptions of what dance is and who can do it, and Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre, Auckland, for the impact of its music therapy programmes and outreach partnerships.

Arts Access Corrections Māui Tikitiki a Taranga Award 2018

Beth Hill, Northland Region Corrections Facility

Beth Hill was recognised for her leadership in using arts and education as transformative tools for men at Northland Region Corrections Facility.

Her work created opportunities for people in prison to participate in ambitious creative projects and demonstrated the role arts and education can play in rehabilitation.

Highly Commended: Jade Morgan, Dunedin, for using martial arts and tikanga at Otago Corrections Facility to inspire positive change and providing education opportunities after release, and George Massingham, Hawke’s Bay, for his leadership in enabling tikanga-based arts and cultural programmes to flourish at Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison.

Arts Access Te Auaha Community Partnership Award 2018

Waitakere Alternative Education Consortium, Target Alternative Education Centre and Creative Collaborative, Auckland

The partners were recognised for Humans of Hendo, a photography and storytelling project connecting young people with people in the Henderson community.

Developed in response to concerns about youth disengagement and violence in Henderson, the project gave young people opportunities to listen to and document people’s stories, building meaningful connections within their community.

Highly Commended: Write Where You Are, NZ Festival, Rimutaka and Arohata Prisons, Wellington, for a partnership providing a safe and valuable creative experience with positive outcomes for the men and women involved.

Arts Access Creative New Zealand Arts For All Award 2018

Auckland Arts Festival, Auckland

Auckland Arts Festival was recognised for its leadership and commitment to making the festival accessible to diverse audiences and building new audiences for the arts.

Its work demonstrated how accessibility could be incorporated into a major arts festival and help Deaf and disabled people participate more fully as audience members.

Highly Commended: Royal New Zealand Ballet, Wellington, for its programme of accessible events making ballet available to people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience it.

Arts Access PAK’nSAVE Artistic Achievement Award 2018

Jesse Johnstone-Steele, Auckland

Dancer Jesse Johnstone-Steele was recognised for his outstanding artistic achievements and contribution to dance, including his pivotal role in Touch Compass since its inception in 1997.

His career as a performer helped challenge perceptions about disability, dance and who can be a professional dancer.

Highly Commended: Suzanne Cowan, Auckland, for a professional dance career spanning 19 years as a dancer, choreographer, teacher and academic, and becoming the first contemporary dancer with a disability in New Zealand to gain a PhD in dance.

Highly Commended: Jacob Dombroski, Wellington, for his talent, commitment to his craft and his solo work Big J Stylez.

Arts Access Corrections Whai Tikanga Award 2018

Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison and St John’s College

Hawke’s Bay Regional Prison and St John’s College were recognised for a partnership bringing secondary school students and young people in prison together through creativity and tikanga.

The project explored the young prisoners’ creative potential through making rimu platter boards and developed a successful business model within a tikanga framework.

Highly Commended: Bundy Waitai and Arrin Clark, Northland, for cultural programmes at Northland Region Corrections Facility supporting people in prison to reconnect with their culture, strengthen their sense of identity and make positive change.

Arts Access Creative New Zealand Media Award 2018

Lynn Freeman, Radio New Zealand, Wellington

Broadcaster Lynn Freeman was recognised for nearly 20 years of commitment to reporting on the diversity of arts and artists in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Most recently as a presenter of RNZ’s arts programme Standing Room Only, Lynn helped bring a wide range of artists, practices and perspectives to national audiences.