The Allan Labor government is backing Australia's most inclusive and accessible music festival, with Ability Fest returning to Melbourne.
The Premier today announced $650,000 [JD1] in support for Ability Fest through the Community Support Fund and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC).
The move highlights Ability Fest's mission to prove accessibility works in many spaces and challenges the music industry to think bigger about what inclusive events can look like.
The one-day festival is designed with inclusion at every level and features elevated viewing platforms, quiet zones, sensory areas, Auslan interpreters and live captioning.
Companion tickets are available free of charge for carers and there will also be a designated assistance dog area.
Victorians can look forward to a welcoming, safe and exciting experience with custom merch, a wheelchair basketball half court with come-and-try sessions and the chance to win a car.
Festival-goers will also get to experience the TAC-sponsored tactile sensory silent disco.
The not-for-profit Ability Fest began in 2018 helping young Australians living with disability overcome barriers they face, chase their dreams and fulfill their potential.
The event will be held at Port Melbourne's The Timber Yard on 11 April and features an all-electronic line up. For more information, visit the Ability Fest webpage.
As stated by Premier Jacinta Allan
"We're proud to support Ability Fest and make sure more Victorians can enjoy great music at a festival built on inclusion and accessibility."
"Ability Fest is about people coming together, sharing great experiences and feeling like they belong. It creates a space where everyone is welcome and celebrates the diversity that makes our community strong."
As stated by Ability Fest founder Dylan Alcott AO
"Ability Fest has always been about proving that accessibility and incredible experiences aren't mutually exclusive, they're essential. We want to show that accessibility at large-scale festivals isn't just possible, it's achievable."
"Whether it's a field, a warehouse or any space between, we're building the blueprint for what inclusive events should look like. Taking over a venue like The Timber Yard - a space known for world-class electronic acts - shows that accessible events can compete at the highest level."
