Grant supports audio description at Fortune Theatre

1 February 2012

Fortune Theatre in Dunedin is opening its doors to blind and vision-impaired audiences by providing six audio-described performances of its plays in 2012, supported by a one-off $3000 grant from Creative New Zealand.

Local actor Anna Henare and her trust Experience Access has teamed up with Fortune Theatre to present the audio-described performances, starting with The Motor Camp, a comedy by Dave Armstrong opening on 18 February.

Anna will also be evaluating the impact of performances and developing a template for best practice in audio-described performances that can be used and adapted by other art organisations.

The project is part of a year-long plan to make the theatre accessible to all members of the community. It includes a closed-caption performance for Deaf and hearing-impaired patrons.

Also in Dunedin, Studio2 has received a grant of $1850 to display artwork by its disabled artists to professional standards in its exhibition space on George Street. This includes the costs of framing the work.

Organisations and venues in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland will also become more accessible this year, thanks to the Creative New Zealand grants. Projects range from disability awareness staff training and sign language interpretations to music workshops and concerts for disabled children and young adults, and improved physical access.

Totalling $30,000, the eleven grants are being administered by Arts Access Aotearoa through its Arts For All Programme, a partnership programme with Creative New Zealand. The aim of this programme is to work with representatives from the disability sector to support arts organisations, venues and producers to improve their access.