Access Arts Inc® - The Key to Success in the Arts

Access Arts Indigenous Projects

Access Arts has a commitment to the acknowledgement, reconciliation and inclusive engagement of all people experiencing disability and disadvantage. We welcome all members to participate in our multi-arts program and invite Indigenous and multicultural communities to partner with us in the delivery of workshops and projects. Below are the key projects and programs Access Arts is currently delivering that may be of interest to Indigenous communities, individuals and organisations. In addition to these, Access Arts also provides arts and cultural support to Indigenous members and groups on an ‘as needed’ basis. Access Arts is funded for Indigenous projects with arts and health outcomes by the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.

Access Arts Inc (Queensland) Indigenous Strategic Plan

2009 - 2012

Vision:

To increase the services Access Arts delivers to Indigenous communities throughout Queensland, with a focus on cultural wellbeing, people experiencing disability and disadvantage and regional areas.

Mission:

For the next three years, Access Arts will focus on four elements to achieve our vision:

Members – creative engagement and development through creativity, art form appropriateness/relevance
Artists and art workers – employment and career paths
Partnerships – drawing on respective strengths, adding value, creating opportunities for partners
Connections – developing organisational culture, inclusiveness, networks, communications and infrastructure

Members:

To increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members participating in our workshops and programs.

Strategy 1 - Delivery of Brisbane based Keepin It Real cross-cultural Hip Hop program, which encourages young people from a range of backgrounds to develop music skills and share experiences.

Timeframe - 1 yr funded professional development project until 2010, ongoing workshops.

Key Performance Indicator - At least 4 Indigenous young people access the professional development 1yr project. At least 4 Indigenous young people access the workshops each term. At least one community event is held yearly to showcase participants’ talents and skills.

Strategy 2 - Access Arts conducts yearly member focus groups and individual consultations, encouraging Indigenous members to attend to give their input into service delivery through appropriate marketing and networking leading up to the event.

Timeframe - Yearly

Key Performance Indicator - At least 10 Indigenous people attend the yearly focus group or provide input into the program.

Strategy 3 - Development and implementation of a targeted, culturally appropriate media, marketing and networking campaign to encourage new Indigenous members.

Timeframe - Ongoing with 6 monthly reviews.

Key Performance Indicator - At least 10 new Indigenous members and organisational members per year.

Artists and arts workers: To become a pathway organisation for Indigenous members wishing to establish careers in the creative industries.

Strategy 1 - Indigenous young people encouraged to undertake professional development and paid employment opportunities through Keepin It Real cross-cultural Hip Hop professional development 1yr project.

Timeframe - Until January 2010

Key Performance Indicator - At least 2 Indigenous people employed. At least 4 Indigenous young people access professional development program.

Strategy 2 - Local Indigenous people hired to deliver regional projects.

Timeframe - Ongoing

Key Performance Indicator - At least one local Indigenous person hired per regional project.

Strategy 3 - Access Arts sources a greater variety of Indigenous artists and cultural practitioners as arts workers in core programs.

Timeframe - Ongoing

Key Performance Indicator - At least 5 arts workers hired each year.

Partnerships: To use reciprocal partnerships with other organisations and communities across Queensland to create more opportunities for Indigenous individuals and communities.

Strategy 1 - Partner with Indigenous organisations to develop arts and cultural programs and events.

Timeframe - Ongoing

Key Performance Indicator - At least 3 new partnerships developed across Queensland by 2012.

Strategy 2 - Access Arts formalises the relationship with Fortitude Valley CentaCare and submit collaborative funding proposals.

Timeframe - Mid 2009

Key Performance Indicator - New partnership agreement signed, collaborative funding applied for and successful.

Connections: Establish Access Arts throughout Indigenous Queensland communities as a trustworthy, responsive and culturally appropriate arts organisation.

Strategy 1 - Engage an Indigenous Elder to provide ongoing advice and consultancy services.

Timeframe - By mid 2009

Key Performance Indicator - Indigenous Elder hired and provides ongoing consultancy for the appropriate remuneration.

Strategy 2 - As part of Access Arts’ general goal to establish a regional node in Cairns, the organisation focuses on creating opportunities for the involvement of Indigenous communities in the region.

Timeframe - Ongoing

Key Performance Indicator - Funding applications for regional Indigenous projects identified and applied for, Access Arts successful auspicing and project management of Creative Recovery Project.

Strategy 3 - Access Arts actively supports developing projects from other organisations in addition to developing new initiatives with a view to long term relationships with communities.

Timeframe - Ongoing until 2012

Key Performance Indicator - Access Arts works with at least 8 different services and groups during the life of the plan in different capacities- as partners, funding bodies, consultants, trainers and providers of in-kind support.

Creative Recovery Art in Health Initiative

The Creative Recovery Project represents an innovative partnership approach to mental health recovery in remote indigenous communities. Participants in the project are indigenous consumers of mental health services who are living with severe and complex mental health issues. It has been piloted in the community of Lockhart River in Far North Queensland, operational since 3rd October 2008. The targeted participants engage in weekly visual arts workshops at the Lockhart River Arts Centre, learning skills in the visual arts to express themselves and share thoughts, feelings and experiences with others.

The aim is to engage a full-time worker from the community to facilitate the Creative Recovery participants into the general activities of the Art Centre. It is envisaged that this will improve social inclusion of people with mental health needs, reduce stigma and foster mental health literacy in the project community. In addition to this, there are plans to apply a comprehensive Evaluation framework to the project in order to add to the body of evidence around Art in Health Initiatives; there impact on social inclusion and potential for improving community wellbeing. Assuming the evaluation shows that the program is effective, we hope to extend the project to other remote Indigenous communities in Cape York.

Dowload the new Creative Recovery Flyer as a PDF.

Expressions of Interest Wanted from Emerging Indigenous Artists

Are you interested in developing your artistic skills?
Would you like to pursue a career in the arts?

If so, contact Access Arts Inc today to discuss your professional goals!

Access Arts can provide:

Work experience in your chosen art form both within the organisation and the wider community
Assistance to attend formal training programs
One on one mentoring to further develop your artistic skills.

(All art forms are eligible- whether it is painting, dancing, music or more!)

Access Arts Queensland is the Brisbane based peak body working with artists, cultural workers and their communities across Queensland. We deliver a range of Professional Arts and Cultural services to Queensland communities with an emphasis on those communities, groups and individuals who experience disability and disadvantage.

Access Arts proactively supports the professional skills development and employment of artists from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds. To discuss ways Access Arts can work with you to further your career in the arts and cultural sectors, please contact Sally Josephson at Access Arts on 3844 5897, (1300 663 651 for regional callers) or email sally@accessarts.org.au. Positions are open to artists throughout Queensland.

Hurry, limited spaces are available!

Proudly supported by the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Keepin It Real Cross Cultural Program

‘Keepin it Real’ is a cross cultural creative program for young people aged 16- 30 years, based at the Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm. With a particular focus on the professional skills development of young people from Indigenous backgrounds, this program focuses on the various art forms of the modern Australian hip hop culture. It also provides professional development, employment and performance opportunities for the young people involved.

Watch the Keepin It Real Demo on YouTube

Project Aims to develop:

A professional skills development and mentoring program for 8 young people including those from Indigenous and culturally diverse backgrounds who wish to gain employment in the entertainment, arts and cultural sectors.
Community hip hop workshops open to all young people in the community.
Employment opportunities for young arts workers in workshop facilitation, performance and community development in wider community contexts.
Leadership skills for young people through the establishment of a project steering committee open to proactive young people wishing to also develop skills in group work, grant writing, administration and event/project management.
Role modelling by young arts workers for other younger people in the community through school workshop programs.
A sustainable annual youth hip hop and cultural event at the Brisbane Powerhouse.
Strong partnerships with community groups and organisations in order to ensure the sustainability of the project and to broaden opportunities for young people in the project.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its funding and advisory body.

Continuous Quality Improvement Project (Indigenous communities)

Through project funding from the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Access Arts is currently delivering a project aimed at improving processes and structures around service access, engagement and delivery. Consultations and program evaluations with up to 6 identified Indigenous communities or groups will take place in order to improve and advance service delivery to Indigenous individuals and communities. These consultations will inform the development of an Indigenous Strategic Plan and Policy.

As part of this project, Access Arts office, workshop and project staff and volunteers will receive ongoing cultural awareness training to ensure they have the appropriate skills to engage with a range of communities.

Estimated project completion date: January 2009 (Please note: The process of continuous improvement itself is an ongoing process that Access Arts employs to ensure responsive and quality service delivery and projects.)

Professional Development for Emerging Indigenous Artists, Arts and Cultural Workers

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Disability Network of Queensland (ATSIDNQ)

As a small group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people, we have come together to develop a Network of people with disability who share our cultural background. The Steering Committee has taken on the role of bringing together a strong core of people who share a passion to address the impact of disability and associated issues that affect our people and our culture.

Since 2005, the idea of this Network has been supported by leaders in the community who formed the Steering group. The building of the Network has been supported by other organisations including Access Arts, QDN (Queenslanders with Disability Network Inc), LifeTec, and interested individuals who work in the disability sector.

With the help of these supporters we have held over five events to gain community involvement and progress the objective of being strong, culturally-appropriate voice of, and for, ATSI people with disability. Various Ministers for Disability Services have invited us to present at four Shared Visions Conferences on issues impacting on ATSI with disability, with a view of promoting the Network.

With our supporters, we have developed a vision for the Network to be a strong presence across Queensland and link our people, who have a disability, together.

The Network will:

Develop better, more effective protocols and processes that will allow people to engage and express their concerns freely, so that they can utilise services and be involved in decisions that impact on their lives.
Link with ATSI community across Queensland to develop awareness of people with disabilities and their place in communities of their choosing.
Work with others to ensure that ATSI people with a disability not only have their needs met, but have their human rights and spirituality respected in culturally appropriate ways.
Celebrate and honour ATSI cultural practices and incorporate these into a holistic vision for the inclusion of all people – addressing issues that relates specifically to people with disabilities.

Achievements of the Network in 2009:

The Network gained further support from Access Arts in the form of funding for a Network Development Worker for 5 hours a week in return for culturally advisory support from the Network
Continued support from QDN through partnerships and venue support
Presentation at Shared Vision Conference 2009 in early April
Involvement in Disability Action Week in September
Attendance at the National Indigenous Disability Leadership Conference in Sydney early September
Presentation at HACC Indigenous Gathering Conference in early September
Involvement in QUT Disability Awareness Day in early June
Involvement in NAIDOC Week in July
Presentation at UQ on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander on disability issues in early July

For more information about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Disability Network of Queensland, please contact:

Willie Prince (Chair-Person of ATSIDNQ) - Email

Emma Galea (Network Development Worker) - Email

Fran Vicary (Co-ordinator of Queenslanders with Disability Network Inc) - Email

Alan Parsons (Steering Committee Member) - Email

Access Arts Sponsors

Access Arts Inc ® (Queensland) receives financial assistance from the Queensland Government through Disability Services Queensland
and Arts Queensland; from the Federal Government through the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and
Australia Council for the Arts; from the Westpac Foundation; and from the Mental Health Council of Australia.