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Thursday 16 August 2012

Excellence in regional innovation awarded to Accessible Arts North Coast


On Tuesday 14 August, Minister for Disability Services Andrew Constance congratulated Accessible Arts for receiving the Excellence in Regional Innovation award at the NSW Disability Industry Innovation Awards.

The new awards program was presented at Parliament House with over 130 representatives from the NSW disability sector, recognizing individuals and organisations that are doing things differently and thinking outside the box to achieve results for people with disability, their families and carers.

Accessible Arts regional project Creating Connections commenced in October 2011, having identified a need for greater support for people with disability in regional NSW to access the arts and participate fully in Australian cultural life.

The three-year project won funding from the NSW Government Community Services, Department of Family and Community Services and is the first of its kind in regional NSW, bringing innovative approaches to improving access to the arts for people with disability in the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast region of NSW.

Julie Barratt is the regional Accessible Arts Officer managing the project and is already witnessing the positive outcomes of being based in the region to provide hands on support to a range of individuals, projects and service providers.

The number of regional arts and disability organisations, local councils, donors and supporters of people with disability who are contributing to the reach of Creating Connections is greatly impacting the lives of people with disability to participate in the arts in our region and beyond, Julie said.

Grants have been won by local arts and disability initiatives competing for mainstream arts funding, artists with disability are receiving greater representation in local and touring exhibitions and venues are broadening their programs to better implement access initiatives.

This industry award recognises not only Accessible Arts as a leader of excellence in regional innovation, but also the combined efforts of the region and its desire to achieve greater access to the arts for all.

Media: for interviews contact Julie Barratt tel: (02) 0427 211 882 |
jbarratt@aarts.net.au


www.aarts.net.au
Ph: (02) 9251 6499

Accessible Arts | ARTS + DISABILITY NSW

Accessible Arts is assisted by the NSW Government through Arts NSW and
Family and Community Services.

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