Access to the arts

What do we mean by the term "access to the arts"? It's about people being able to participate in the arts, whatever their circumstances. This includes people creating and presenting the arts. It might be a poem, a play, a painting, a dance or a song. It also includes taking part in the arts as an audience member, a reader, or a visitor to a gallery or a film. Accessible arts practice is a human rights approach where the arts are seen as beneficial to all people; and where arts activities include the cultural and social voices of marginalised people. One of the roles of Arts Access Aotearoa is to facilitate opportunities where people can create or participate in the arts.

In this section

Visual arts: art and anthropology

By Stuart Shepherd In recent years, there's been some debate about the term "outsider art" in New Zealand. The term "outsider" is a problem. No one likes to be labelled. Well, most people don't although punks, skaters and Goths might be comfortable with their tags. I don't know. View Visual arts: art and anthropology...

Artist in focus

All over New Zealand, there are artists - writers, performing artists, visual artists - doing amazing things. This section profiles some of them. View Artist in focus...

Resources and publications

This section aims to provide useful resources and publications. Please let us know about any resources you think others would enjoy reading on topics related to arts access. View Resources and publications...

Useful links

This section contains links to sites that provide relevant information about accessible arts practice and community arts development. If you would like your organisation's site to be listed in this section, please and we may be able to add you to this section. View Useful links...

Performing arts

Many New Zealanders in communities throughout the country participate in the performing arts, whether it's dance, drama or music. We will be updating this page soon to provide information about individuals and organisations working to provide access to these artforms. View Performing arts...