[can-talk] FW: For Response by 3 Nov - National Government Arts Disability Health Ageing Education Employment Strategy Discussion Paper

For those interested in responding.

-----Original Message-----
From: Arts Access Australia [mailto:ed at artsaccessaustralia.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, 8 October 2008 9:18 AM
To: Van Tiel, Michael
Subject: For Response by 3 Nov - National Government Arts Disability
Health Ageing Education Employment Strategy Discussion Paper


This Discussion Paper is relevant to any individual or organization
interested in the areas of arts, health (including mental health),
disability and community services, ageing, education, employment,
Indigenous affairs and infrastructure.

A discussion paper on developing a National Arts and Disability Strategy
was released by Cultural Ministers Council. It is available for download
on the CMC website at
http://www.cmc.gov.au/working_groups/national_arts_and_disability_strate
gy_working_group/national_arts_and_disability_strategy in Word, HTML PDF
and MP3 audiovisual formats. A printed brochure version, Auslan
interpreted captioned DVD, Braille and large-print versions are also
available. 

Submissions will be open until 3 November 2008. The email address for
submissions is arts.disability at environment.gov.au. Other contacts are
detailed in the paper.
 
Please distribute this paper through your networks and respond. The more
responses received the greater the recognition and potential support for
improved access !

The discussion paper is attached as a Word document and cut and paste
into the body of this email below.

Many thanks

Gareth   

Gareth Wreford
Executive Director
Arts Access Australia
91 Canal Rd
Lilyfield NSW 2040
Tel 02 9518 0561
Email ed at artsaccessaustralia.org





National Arts and Disability Strategy 
Discussion Paper



















 

The National Arts and Disability Strategy Working Group of the Cultural
Ministers Council 
October 2008
Contents 

Background
3


Consultation process
3 

How to make your submission
4

Benefits of a national strategy
5 

Key focus areas
5
Barriers to access and participation
5
Barriers to arts practice
6
Audience development
7
Other issues for consideration
8

Glossary
9

Endnotes
11










This discussion paper was produced by the National Arts and Disability
Strategy Working Group of Australia's Cultural Ministers Council. 
Web:	www.cmc.gov.au 
Email: arts.disability at environment.gov.au 
Phone: 1800 185 693
 
Introduction 

In February 2008, ministers responsible for culture and the arts in
Australia agreed that the Cultural Ministers Council (CMC) should
develop a National Arts and Disability Strategy.

This national strategy will improve coordination and collaboration
across governments, helping to ensure that all Australians with a
disability have the opportunity to engage fully in arts and cultural
activities. 

The development and implementation of a National Arts and Disability
Strategy will be guided by the principles of the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

The strategy will complement the overarching National Disability
Strategy and the National Mental Health and Disability Employment
Strategy (both currently being developed) as well as existing strategies
in Australia.

The CMC working group developing the National Arts and Disability
Strategy is calling for public submissions. 

We invite your comments and submissions by 3 November 2008, via the
contacts listed on page 4 of this paper.

Background

Social inclusion is one of the Australian Government's top priorities,
as outlined in the 2007 policy document, A Social Inclusion Agenda. 

The right of all people to participate freely and actively in the
artistic and cultural life of the community is a cornerstone of social
inclusion. 

The Australian Government's 2007 election policy document, New
Directions for the Arts, included a commitment to developing a National
Arts and Disability Strategy. The strategy will aim to give all
Australians an equal opportunity to participate in the arts and enjoy
them. 

The CMC working group, chaired by the Australian Government, will
coordinate discussions with state and territory jurisdictions, local
governments and the arts and disability sectors. 

Consultation process 

The CMC working group invites you to make submissions on a National Arts
and Disability Strategy. 

This paper talks about issues and asks some questions to generate a
discussion. We also welcome your suggestions and comments about arts and
disability issues not covered by the paper.

To work well, a National Arts and Disability Strategy will rely on
contributions from a wide range of people with a disability and/or
mental illness. 

We would like to hear from people of all ages and people in remote and
regional communities, as well as organisations and individuals who work
or live with people with a disability. 

That means we are interested in hearing from as many people in the
community as possible with an interest in arts and disability. Your
submissions will help the working group to develop a comprehensive
strategy aimed at tackling the barriers to participation in, and access
to, arts and cultural activity. 

You can simply tell us about your own experiences of Australian arts and
culture. Or you can read the ideas in this document and respond to them.


We are interested in hearing about examples of what is currently being
done well and about ideas that can be achieved within existing
resources.

People working in the arts and disability sectors often know about
international initiatives and programs. You may like to tell us about
some of those.

How to make your submission

You can email your submission to: arts.disability at environment.gov.au 

You can mail a hand-written or typed submission to: 
Secretariat, Cultural Ministers Council
Arts Division 
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787 
CANBERRA  ACT  2601
Phone: 1800 185 693
Fax: (+61) 02 6275 9663

We only need a single copy of your submission.

Please include your name, phone number and postal address. If the
submission is from an organisation, please indicate this clearly. 

Unless you ask us to keep it private, your submission may be made public
on the Cultural Ministers Council website at www.cmc.gov.au. 

If we can help you with your communication needs in any way please phone
1800 185 693.  

We can provide this paper in alternative formats: large print, Braille,
CD, Auslan DVD. The paper is available in HTML, Word, or PDF formats. 

National Relay Service
People with a hearing or speech impairment can call the numbers below
through the National Relay Service at no cost:
*	TTY users can phone 1800 555 677 then ask for 1800 185 693
*	Speak and Listen (speech-to-speech relay) users can phone 1800
555 727 then ask for 1800 185 693
*	Internet relay users can connect to the National Relay Service
(see www.relayservice.com.au for details) and then ask for    1800 185
693

If you need more information or support from the National Relay Service,
contact the helpdesk (9am to 5pm Australian Eastern Standard Time):  
TTY: 1800 555 630
Voice: 1800 555 660
SMS: 0416 001 350
Fax: 1800 555 690
Email: helpdesk at relayservice.com.au
 

Benefits of a national strategy

The National Arts and Disability Strategy is an opportunity for the
Australian Government and state and territory governments to make a
national commitment on arts and disability issues. 

It will help bring together programs and initiatives across the arts,
health, disability and community services, ageing, education,
employment, Indigenous affairs and infrastructure portfolios.

The strategy is also an opportunity to highlight best practice in the
arts and disability field and to share stories of your experiences and
what works well.

The strategy will be one of several cross-government activities designed
to address social exclusion and remove barriers to full and active
citizenship.  

The strategy will work alongside other related initiatives. It will be
designed to complement other national strategies that are being
developed: the National Disability Strategy and the National Mental
Health and Disability Employment Strategy. It will also link with the
Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement, and state/territory
legislation, strategies or plans such as Victoria's Disability Act 2006,
New South Wales' Disability Services Act 1993 and Western Australia's
Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2007-2011.

Discussion points
*	How can we best give people with a disability a voice in the
development of arts policy and practices?
*	What are the most important areas for collaboration or
partnerships in the area of arts and disability?
*	How do we better coordinate and link existing resources and
programs, plans and strategies across all levels and areas of
government?
*	What programs are there outside the arts portfolio at each level
of government that might be of benefit to the development of disability
arts?
-	Are there examples of arts-related projects/initiatives already
being supported through these programs which may provide useful case
studies or models?
-	Which of these programs have the most potential and which ones
should be prioritised for action?

Key focus areas

Barriers to access and participation

In 2003, the Australian Bureau of Statistics Survey of Disability,
Ageing and Carers identified that one in five people in Australia have
some form of disability. 
 
Demand has grown in the area of the arts and disability in recent years,
but Australians with a disability are still participating less in arts
and cultural activities than the general population.  

Physical barriers such as not being able to access or move through
public spaces freely or independently are sometimes seen as the main
barrier to participation. 

However, barriers can also be because of attitudes and procedures.

Some of the barriers that may prevent access and participation in
cultural activities include:
*	financial barriers such as ticket costs; 
*	lack of accessible public transport and disabled parking; 
*	lack of captioning, hearing augmentation and Auslan
interpretation at cultural events;  
*	lack of large print or Braille signs and labels;
*	website and ticketing procedures that are not user-friendly;  
*	attitudes in the community, arts organisations, venues,
presenters and ticketing agencies; and
*	limited funding to support arts and cultural organisations to
deliver outreach programs on-site in homes or through disability
services facilities. 

Discussion points - barriers to access and participation
*	How can a National Arts and Disability Strategy help people with
a disability to participate in arts and cultural activities (including
people of all ages and in all locations)?
*	How can we better understand what prevents people with a
disability from engaging in the arts? 
*	How do we change attitudes within the arts sector to people with
a disability and their needs?
*	Are the sources of information and ticketing systems currently
available accessible to people with a disability and user-friendly?
-	If not, are there practical or inexpensive ways to make them
more accessible?

Barriers to arts practice

Artists with a disability tend to face similar barriers whether they are
professional arts practitioners or aspiring and emerging artists. 

People with a disability may be on low incomes and may also find it
difficult to seek and gain employment. They have fewer professional
development opportunities and more limited access to training, and can
experience difficulties accessing information and opportunities for
funding.

Artists with a disability may find it hard to develop a professional
body of work to put forward for assessment by arts funding agencies and
organisations because their particular needs are not being supported. 

Research on arts employment participation rates for people with a
disability is limited, but we know that the general labour force
participation rate for people with a disability is lower than that of
the general population.  

In 2003, the Australia Council surveyed the economic circumstances of
practising professional Australian artists. The results suggested that
about 10 per cent of Australian artists live with a disability. 

Many people with a disability who actively and independently engage in
arts practice are not directly supported by the arts and disability
sector.

Artists with a disability in professional practice may need extra
support, like extra funds for equipment, travel or support workers. 

There are a range of programs and initiatives across governments and
portfolios to assist people with a disability in their arts practice,
training and employment. A case has been made by the arts and disability
sector for increased access to funding, training, professional
development opportunities, mentoring and career pathways for both
professionals with a disability and people in the community with a
disability. 

Discussion points-barriers to arts practice

*	How can we best support artists with a disability to increase
their applications to, and competitiveness in, general arts funding
programs?
*	How do we ensure the interests of artists with a disability are
understood and represented in decision-making processes, especially in
funding and grants decision making?
*	How can we address the under-representation of people with a
disability employed in the art, cultural and creative industries?
*	How do we ensure that professional development opportunities for
artists with a disability are not limited because of their disability?
*	Is it important to address the professional development needs of
artists with a disability separately from, or integrated with, other
artists?
*	How can we best support access and other needs, such as content
and presentation, for students of the arts who have a disability?

Audience development

Data collection concerning audiences with a disability, and audiences
for art produced by people with a disability, is limited and
inconsistent.

We need to understand what prevents people with a disability from
engaging with the arts, and how to build audiences for disability arts
product as well as products for audiences with a disability. 

One aim of the strategy will be to help presenting organisations and
venues in understanding and meeting the needs of people with a
disability as audience members. There are important opportunities for
governments, the arts and disability sector and employment organisations
to promote audience development.  

Discussion points-audience development
*	How can we most effectively develop audiences of people with a
disability for both mainstream arts and cultural experiences and for
arts and cultural work produced by or for people with a disability? 
*	Should programming be developed that specifically engages with
and is relevant to people with a disability?
*	How can we most effectively develop broader audiences for arts
and cultural work produced by people with a disability?
*	How can we encourage companies, venues and festivals to include
works created by artists with a disability in their programming?
*	Should the focus be on supporting arts organisations
specifically formed by and for people with a disability or should this
be a responsibility of all arts companies, venues and festivals?
*	How can advocacy in this area be improved?

Other issues for consideration

Discussion points
*	How can we best maintain the momentum of a National Arts and
Disability Strategy over time?
*	What is the most appropriate governance arrangement for
monitoring and improving a National Arts and Disability Strategy into
the future?
*	Are there any other opportunities and/or areas for collaboration
which you think should be included in the strategy?


 
 
Glossary

Artist
Arts workers in all parts of the arts community including performers,
visual artists, writers, multimedia artists, arts administrators, museum
and gallery curators and technicians.

Arts and cultural activity	
Includes arts events, institutions or services such as performances,
exhibitions, theatres, museums, galleries, libraries, cinemas and other
cultural places. In this context, it does not include other recreation,
leisure and sporting activities.

Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement 
A guide that helps the Australian Government and state and territory
governments to make a positive difference in the lives of people with a
disability. The agreement recognises the governments' complementary
roles developing and delivering public policy and services. It also
acknowledges the pivotal role of all governments in promoting the rights
of, and equality of opportunity for, people with disabilities.

Cultural Ministers Council	
The Cultural Ministers Council (CMC) brings together government
ministers from Australia and New Zealand to develop Australia's arts and
cultural sector. The Australian Local Government Association, Papua New
Guinea and Norfolk Island have observer status, attending meetings
without contributing to decisions. See www.cmc.gov.au

Disability	
The 'social model' of disability has influenced contemporary disability
policy in recent years. It focuses on the environment rather than the
individual's circumstances.
It refers to disability as a consequence of attitudinal, social and
environmental barriers and targets opportunities to address these. 
In this paper, 'persons with a disability' refers to people who have
long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which,
combined with other barriers, may hinder their full and effective
participation in society on an equal basis with others (as in Article 1
of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities). 
The Commonwealth's Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) is the main
legislation that protects all Australians against discrimination based
on disability.  The definition of disability under the DDA is
principally based on a model of 'disability' that includes physical,
intellectual, psychiatric, sensory and neurological impairments,
learning difficulties, physical disfigurement and the presence of
diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

National Disability Strategy
The Australian Government has committed to developing a National
Disability Strategy (NDS). The Government will work in partnership with
other governments, people with a disability, their families, carers and
the organisations that support and represent them.
The development of the National Disability Strategy is supported by
international thinking that recognises that a whole-of-government,
whole-of-life approach to disability issues is the best way to tackle
the social and economic divide between people with a disability and
people without a disability.  
The development of the National Disability Strategy will include a
formal consultation process later this year. 
The final National Disability Strategy will provide an organising and
monitoring framework for existing work and bring together other key
initiatives currently under review or development. It could include, but
not be limited to, the:
*	National Disability Agreement;
*	Inquiry into Better Support for Carers (July 2008);
*	National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy;
*	National Arts and Disability Strategy;
*	Disability Discrimination Act Access to Premises Standard; and
*	Harmonisation of Disabled Persons Parking Scheme and Companion
Card Scheme

Social inclusion
The right for all Australians to be able to play a full role in all
aspects of Australian life. To be fully included in society, all
Australians should have the opportunity to:
*	secure a job; 
*	access services; 
*	connect with family, friends, work, personal interests and local
community; 
*	deal with personal crisis; and 
*	have their voices heard.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 
Intended as a human rights instrument with an explicit, social
development dimension, it adopts a broad categorisation of persons with
disabilities; clarifies and qualifies how all categories of rights apply
to persons with disabilities; identifies areas where adaptations have to
be made for persons with disabilities; and identifies where protection
of rights must be reinforced.
Australia ratified the Convention on 17 July 2008. It is available on
the United Nations website: www.un.org/disabilities 








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