Blog

Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage and the Australia Council for the Arts recently put out a call for research into the contribution of the arts to wellbeing, public value and social inclusion. After more than 20 years making, managing, teaching and researching community-based arts and applied theatre, I have grown weary of... Keep Reading

It’s been a busy month of meetings and events – from the launch of the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Hansel and Gretel season and its audio described performances to the annual fundraising Pablos Art Auction, an Opportunity Arts exhibition in Parliament, an Arts Access Aotearoa board meeting and a meeting with Minister Carmel Sepuloni. Keep Reading

I recently attended the opening of From the Inside – Mai i Roto, an exhibition presented by Taupō Museum and the Department of Corrections and running until 4 November. The exhibition acknowledges the value of creativity for wellbeing, self-discovery and rehabilitation. Keep Reading

Being a visitor at a disability arts conference in another country has both advantages and disadvantages. Advantages: everything is new and interesting; new projects, people, approaches and networking opportunities. One disadvantage: you don't necessarily know enough to make the most useful choices of parallel sessions. But I felt at home in ... Keep Reading

My new show, Manifesto of a Good Cripple, uses dance, film and theatre to tell the story of my career as a dancer with a disability. It discusses themes of identity and provides an antidote to inspiration porn. Keep Reading

A place to stand, a sense of belonging and connection, whānau … All of us on the recent panel about arts and creativity at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in Wellington used these words to discuss how the arts can nourish our health, wellbeing and sense of community. Keep Reading

It is my pleasure to welcome you all to Parliament this evening for Te Putanga Toi Arts Access Awards 2019, our annual opportunity to celebrate the many ways people and organisations are making the arts more accessible to New Zealanders. Keep Reading

The breadth of achievement, inclusion and access to the arts has been represented in Te Putanga Toi Arts Access Awards for another year. We never know what the event will be like until the judges have made their decisions, and then the themes and stories of the event unfold from the recipients. Keep Reading

It’s time to say “haere ra” and “haere mai” at Arts Access Aotearoa. It’s always sad to farewell a member of our team: in this instance, Claire Noble, Access and Participation Advisor for the past six years. In her time with us, Claire has driven the national Arts For All Network, been events co-ordinator extraordinaire (especially... Keep Reading

Accessibility into and within all cultural, arts and entertainment venues in Aotearoa is essential if publically owned venues are to provide equal access for all people. We all have the right to benefit from performances, programmes, collections and exhibitions. Keep Reading

Staying well in a world that can be confronting and confusing is of vital importance and so it was fantastic back in May this year when the Government announced a $1.9 billion boost in funding to help address the growing mental health crisis in New Zealand. Mental health touches everyone: our families and communities in rural areas, across all... Keep Reading

These past two months have been eventful for the Arts in Corrections sector with the launch of the Te Ora Auaha Creative Wellbeing Alliance Aotearoa website; the announcement by Hon Kelvin Davis of $98 million investment to tackle Māori incarceration and the Government’s Wellbeing Budget 2019. Keep Reading

Looking back over 2018, as Chair of Arts Access Aotearoa, I would like to mention just a few of the high notes for Arts Access Aotearoa over  the year – perhaps the highest note coming from our Prime Minister, who expressed the importance of access to the arts for the health and wellbeing of communities and individuals. I cannot recall ever... Keep Reading

Jenny Newstead and Hahna Briggs of GASP! Dance Inclusive share their experiences of inclusive dance, focusing specifically on ableism. Keep Reading