Art organisations across the State have received funding injections of up to $60,000 for projects that involve people with disabilities in professional arts and cultural activities, NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts Troy Grant announced today.

“These projects will improve social inclusion for people with disabilities, including artists, through opportunities to develop their skills and interests in activities across visual, multi-media and performing arts,” Mr Grant said.

“The projects, including half in regional NSW, will also create lasting works of art, highlighting the talents of people with disabilities and develop creative and social networks and partnerships.”

Mr Grant said the projects are being funded by the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government through the Lifetime Care and Support Authority, in partnership with Arts NSW. The Authority supports people severely injured in motor accidents in NSW.

“The projects will build skills and capacity in the arts and disability sector across NSW to deliver arts and cultural activities and professional development opportunities involving people with brain or spinal cord injuries and other people with disabilities,” Mr Grant said.

“The Government’s new Create in NSW: Arts and Cultural Policy Framework aims to boost participation in arts and cultural activities across the community in ways that connect people with diverse artistic talents and interests.

“These innovative arts and disability projects will demonstrate the benefits of inclusive arts practice and raise awareness of the needs, aspirations and artistic achievements of people with disabilities,” Mr Grant said.

PROJECTS

Accessible Arts for Outlandish Arts – $60,000: Outlandish Arts will produce a tour in Sydney and regional NSW of Falling in love with Frida, an intimate and enticing performance that explores the life, loves and legacy of artist Frida Kahlo. The tour will include a workshop program involving people with disability.

Accessible Arts for The Epicormia Collective – $60,000: Six Northern Rivers-based artists living and working with disability will undertake 16 months of professional research, development, collaboration and production work for a multi-artform exhibition project: ‘The Re-authoring Impulse’.

Arts Northern Rivers Inc. for Dance Integrated Australia – $60,000: The ‘Corner Dance Lab 2016’ is a disability-inclusive skills development and performance project that connects local, interstate and international artists with emerging practitioners to increase contemporary dance theatre activity in the Northern Rivers region.

Australian Dance Council t/a Ausdance NSW for Murmuration Dance Theatre – $60,000: Artists with and without disability will create new contemporary dance theatre at a multi-art form residency program at Addison Rd Community Centre in Marrickville.

Illawarra Performing Arts Centre t/a Merrigong Theatre Company – $25,899: Merrigong Theatre Company and The Disability Trust will develop a new mixed abilities theatre work, ‘Bent’, exploring how people with disability participate in civic life.

Metro Screen Ltd for Torrid Films – $30,000: The grant will fund the creative development of ‘The Committee’, a webisode drama series challenging ideas about disability. Ten artists with disability will be professionally mentored to write and film content as part of a pitch package to attract broadcast partners and funding to produce the series.

Museum of Contemporary Art Ltd – $60,000: The MCA will create opportunities within its Bella Plus program for people with disabilities or living with injury, focusing on professional development and social integration.

Performing Lines Ltd – $41,905: Urban Theatre Projects and Northern Rivers Performing Arts will redevelop the successful 2014 production in Sydney and Lismore of their multi-media work, ‘My Radio Heart’ for further touring. Director Rosie Dennis will work with mixed abilities band, Tralala Blip. Performing Lines joins the partnership as the work’s producer for touring.

Riverina Community College – $50,000: ‘The Art Factory’ project will set up the first supported studio in the Riverina region, supporting visual artists with disability to develop a contemporary arts practice and to exhibit work at Wagga Wagga Art Gallery.

Royal Rehab – $59,977: The ‘ImagineMe’ project creates self-portrait artworks using professional photographic equipment adapted for people with spinal cord injury living in regional, rural and remote areas of NSW. The project will also include a touring exhibition of artworks created in the digital workshops in collaboration with NSW regional arts organisations.

Shopfront Theatre for Young People Co-op Ltd – $57,000: The Shopfront Bodylines Ensemble will rework and present its landmark theatre piece ‘Out of Line’ at the Australian Theatre for Young People in August 2015, followed by focused school workshops in dance theatre. Artists with disabilities in the ensemble will take the lead on the project.

Studio ARTES Northside Inc. – $28,000: In the ‘Studio ARTISTS: Expanding Islands’ project, the Studio ARTISTS ensemble will undertake a series of creative development workshops and participate in art fairs and festivals between July 2015 and December 2016. The project also includes a series of creative development workshops in partnership with Erth Physical and Visual Inc. to develop a multi-art form performance piece to be submitted for inclusion in a 2016 arts festival program.

Sunnyfield – $46,220: ‘Rising Hatch’ is a collaboration between Sunnyfield and the Art Gallery of NSW’s Access Program, focusing on 12 artists living with an acquired brain injury and/or other disability. The group will develop a performance piece inspired by specific artworks from the Art Gallery of NSW collections, culminating in public outcomes at the Art Gallery of NSW and Riverside Theatres in December 2015.

Tharawal Local Aboriginal Corporation – $40,000: The project will deliver classes involving Aboriginal people with disability in the Campbelltown area, creating a permanent art work at Tharawal’s Couridjah site and individual art work that will be exhibited at Campbelltown Arts Centre.