The national Arts For All Network connects individuals and organisations from across Aotearoa, in the common goal toward improving access to the arts for Deaf and disabled people as both 

artists and audiences. This Network provides my digital opportunities to stay in touch from anywhere in the country- but there’s nothing better than face-to-face kōrero. Arts For All Activator Katie Querin took this mahi on the road in a whirlwind trip that covered five regions, four annual hui, and countless connections. She writes:

Over two weeks in August and September, I travelled from Wellington to visit Hawke’s Bay, Auckland, and Tauranga, which established in-person Arts For All Networks, for annual regional hui. Each of the sessions were filled with a diverse range of Deaf, disabled and non-disabled members from galleries, museums, theatres, local government, accessibility organisations, independent arts practice, and more. The popular Auckland hui was at maximum capacity, with over fifty attendees coming together! 

I was also able to visit Hamilton for the first-ever Arts For All Waikato Network regional hui, which has been years in the making. There’s so much amazing arts mahi happening in the Waikato region, and over twenty participants came together for this inaugural session. The energy in the room was electric as members made connections, shared ideas and grew excitement. One member said, “I really appreciated coming together and would love to keep sharing and working collectively.”  

In between the hui, I was able to visit arts organisations in Palmerston North and Rotorua, and have plenty of on-the-ground time with many members who wanted venue visits or direct meetings. Linking the travel together opened exciting possibilities for connecting with members from outside of the main centres and from beyond Zoom.  

The travel trip completed the Network’s goal to deliver eight regional hui across Aotearoa in 2025, up from seven in 2024. Regional hui were attended by over 200 Network members, plus two national online hui attended by a further 200 members. All of these hui were designed based on direct feedback from Network members, who had their say at the start of the year through the Arts For All Network survey. The majority spoke of the need for help breaking down accessibility mahi into small, actionable steps that can build over time- and to do this together.  

The hui were unique to each region, with one common thread. I shared a metaphor that accessibility often feels like getting a rock up a hill. It’s a big, important task- but sometimes it can feel difficult to know how to get started or how to further progress, when resources like funding or team capacity are limited. I see the Arts For All Network as a hammer for breaking down the rock, and finding a way to carry the pieces up the hill together. Perfect accessibility doesn’t come all at once, or alone. Instead, it takes connection, collaboration, and shared mahi, and just getting started with what you’ve got – and that’s what the Network is all about. As one member put it, “There is always something we can do.” 

It was an honour to travel and connect with so many passionate, fired-up Network members. Getting out there and seeing how many different voices and perspectives are striving for the same goal, that the arts belongs to and is created by and for everyone, is nothing short of invigorating. In a sector where it’s easy to get into silos, it was a privilege to bust out and see how tightly woven our dreams and goals actually are. A huge thank you to all the members who are part of this beautiful weaving- now let’s keep it going.