The Australia Council has announced the 10 recipients of a new grant program designed to advance the careers of d/Deaf artists or arts workers and artists or arts workers with disability.
The Arts and Disability Initiative provides financial support of $30,000 for up to two years for artists to undertake significant projects that advance their skills, practice or networks.
The initiative is part of the Australia Council's broader investment in Arts and Disability in response to research showing the need to create pathways and address barriers to access and inclusion in the arts.
Australia Council Executive Director for Arts Investment Alice Nash said:
"The Australia Council has a longstanding commitment to supporting arts and culture that reflect the diversity of Australia. We recognise the barriers and inequities in society that impact on participation in culture, which is a fundamental human right.
This investment will support an impressive group of artists and arts workers to pursue bold, innovative, and ambitious projects and new work. We can't wait to follow their journeys."
Writer and essayist Amanda Tink is among the recipients and said:
"This initiative recognises the many ways in which disabled people are disadvantaged in the arts in Australia and is a practical contribution to redressing this problem.
This project is my opportunity to learn from other blind or autistic writers, and to develop a writing style that draws on my first language.
The Arts and Disability Initiative will enable me to do this while adequately paying all of us. The significance of this cannot be overstated since disabled people are often expected to write, and develop their craft, unpaid."
Other recipients include renowned Torres Strait Islander artist Ken Thaiday, who will develop new work building on his work creating traditional headdresses and cultural artifacts.
Dancer, poet and visual artist Melinda Smith OAM will use the initiative to further develop her practice working with custom built Airsticks. The instruments translate movement into music, text and images.
Multidisciplinary artist Hugo Flavelle will collaborate with experts in film and video mapping to further develop his WONDERCHAIR - a wheelchair he has enhanced with film, sound, lighting and projection.
