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

They say you learn something new every day and for me yesterday was no exception! Our Sound Circles workshop program with the Breakaway and ROPE groups on the Redcliffe Peninsula is progressing well so Majella Jacobson and I felt it was about time to hand over some of the facilitation responsibility to the group... but where to start!

As we gathered at Pelican Beach at Clontarf for our morning tea it would have been very easy for us to take the lead with themes such as... “A Day at the Beach” or “Seaside and Sun” but instead we left the group for 5 minutes to decide on their own theme for the day.

As we returned there was a real Buzz… the letter ‘B’ had been chosen as their theme... there were so many things in the surrounds starting with ‘B’... Beach, Bridge, Blue sky, Birds, Blue water, Buses, Boats, Banners Blowing in the Breeze, Big Bouncing Balls... they all agreed that any single theme could not have done justice!

This rich Beautiful tapestry Bonded us all together as we Began Blending in with the sounds around with Body percussion and Bellowing voices. We then reached out to the horizon and moved like the Birds in the Blue sky, Big Cranes on the new Buildings, Buses on the Bridge and Boats on the Blue water. Our new Art work had Begun… the Art of ‘B’eing… and we were all part of it!

How often do you have that feeling that you are truly part of something? My Blind Bipolar journey through life has had some very high Bounces and some very low Black times… and for the moment I need some large Blue pills every morning and night to assist me through each day. My most popularly requested work of art CANE 'n ABLE was Born in 1997 with a lot of support from family, friends and La Boite Theatre encouraging me to tell my story. CANE and I have travelled far and wide sharing our story.

I now realise how important that acceptance of my story By others enabled me overtime to accept my loss of vision and move forward… accepting my Bipolar disorder has been much harder… but in a way I Believe my Bipolar creative edge helped me tell my Blindness story. My Bipolar story is more within and taking longer to emerge… maybe less accepted by those around! My working title for my new show is BIO = life = Bipolar In Order!

Acceptance, Trust and Enjoyment of myself and others are now three Basic steps for me to not only live, but achieve in life. Days like yesterday at Clontarf Beach had all these ingredients and much more… with my new friends at Breakaway and ROPE… Sound Circles allowed each of us to Be ourselves, Believe in ourselves and Breakout… and tell our new story together… Beyond all expectations!

Sound Circles is just one of the exciting range of Access Arts programs… where you can Connect, Create and Celebrate the Art Of ‘B’eing. The Art of ‘B’eing is Access Arts... Enjoy!

Peter Vance, Life Member, Access Arts

For an update on Breakaway Sound Circles see Carollyn Furner’s article.

Access Arts’ 25th Birthday

2008 marks the 25th Birthday of Access Arts Inc. We will mark this celebration with a special anniversary edition of Access Arts News in November. We will also celebrate this milestone as part of our Open Day on 29th November, 2008. We are asking you, our members, to contribute to this occasion by submitting your stories, photos, and memories from the past 25 years. This can be in any format- in writing, pictures, video, DVD, CD, audio or any other format.

Please send your memorabilia to Access Arts at PO Box 1034, New Farm Q 4005, by email or drop in to the office Level 1 Stores Building, Brisbane Powerhouse 119 Lamington St, New Farm during office hours. We will need to receive this by 25th July 2008.

Access Arts’ 2007 Annual Report Available

Following the AGM on 29th March 2008, Access Arts’ Annual Report for 2007 is now available. You can download it from here.

If you would like a hard copy of the 2007 Annual Report, please contact Access Arts on 3358 6200 or 1300 663 651 (local cost for regional callers) and we will post it to you. It is also available in large print or Braille.

Professional Development Forum

Are you a young person experiencing a disability?

Are you a visual artist or musician from Brisbane who has an interest in developing a professional career?

If this is you then Access Arts would like to invite you along to our second professional development forum for this year.

Artists will have the opportunity to share their experiences with other artists in their field as well as the opportunity to hear from a Senior lecturer from The Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Gregg Howard. You will also have the opportunity to learn from practicing professional artists such as Ross Barber (Executive director of Access Arts) and many other well-established artists.

You will have the opportunity to gain some useful information as well as the chance to participate in a panel discussion.

Access Arts welcomes participants from our previous forum as well as any new people who might be interested.

Where: Level Two Stores Building (above Access Arts Office)
Brisbane Powerhouse
119 Lamington Street New Farm

When: Tuesday May 27, 2008

Time: 6-9 pm

If you are interested please RSVP to Hayley or Emma on (07) 3358 6200 or email Hayley or email Emma.

RSVP by: Thursday May 22, 2008.

Management Committee Profiles

Jodi Johnstone - President

Past Community Arts Work:

President: National Outback Performing Arts (NOPA)
Publicity Officer: Longreach Arts Council
Vocalist: Banjo's Outback Theatre
Singing Tour Guide: Longreach and Outer Barcoo Tours
Member: Sunnybank Theatre Group

Jodi has had a long history of service for arts organisations and an enduring interest in the performing arts. She has had classical vocal training from a young age, and has won awards in various talent quests and eisteddfods in the Brisbane and Central Western Queensland areas. With her work in NOPA, her singing has been broadcast on ABC Radio National across Central Western Queensland, and she has co-ordinated community arts events for NOPA at the Stockman's Hall of Fame and Longreach Arts and Crafts Centre. She was employed by Longreach and Outer Barcoo Tours as a Tour Guide and happily serenaded her passengers on these tours through the Central West Queensland region.

Her interest in music has lead to performing in community musical events of various types, including amateur musicals such as La Belle Helene. She also broadened her experience when returning to Brisbane by joining a band of workmates and having a great deal of fun jamming and performing gigs. Jodi joined Access Arts in 2003 and has been honoured to be on the Management Committee for over 3 years. She has developed a keen interest in encouraging meaningful employment for people with disabilities in the performing and visual arts, and in libraries.

Qualifications: BSc (Australian Environmental Studies), Grad. Dip. of Library and Information Studies.
Professional Membership: Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA)
Current Professional work: Librarian/IT Help Desk Professional - Griffith University

Hayley Kitchener - Vice-President

Hayley Kitchener is a recent graduate from The Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, and has been volunteering with Access Arts since the beginning of this year. She has conducted master classes for singers and is working on a number of projects with the aim to assist artists with a disability to establish their careers.

Hayley has had an extensive performance history ranging from singing in opera and music theatre productions to performing contemporary ballads at corporate functions and clubs. Hayley also teaches singing, piano, composition and music theory as well as composing and arranging her own work. Hayley hopes to continue performing and composing works featuring all styles of music.

Staff Profile:

Access Arts would like to introduce William Meehan, our new Marketing Coordinator.

Will is in the office 2 days a week and is developing our marketing plan and working on marketing Access Arts and our artists.

1. Q: When did you come to AAI?
April 2008.

2. Q: What made you decide to work for AAI?
I have been interested in working with people experiencing disability for a while. During a recent trip to Cambodia, I volunteered at a school for children experiencing disability. My experience with the students and teachers there was very rewarding and made me realise how lucky I was to have had the opportunity.

3. Q: What did you do before coming to AAI?
Worked at Fitness First’s Regional Office in their marketing department. Assisting the Marketing Coordinator with contacting and gaining inter-company cooperation on events and promotions.

4. Q: What is your favourite food?
Does it have to be one? Anything at a barbeque.

5. Q: What is your favourite movie?
Once again, I only get to choose one? The Power Of One.

6. Q: What is your favourite song?
All these questions with limits on their answers! “It’s Not Unusual” by Tom Jones. Today it is.

7. Q: What is your star sign?
Aquarius. But I don’t believe in star signs.

8. Q: If you were sent to a desert island, what would you take with you?
A tinnie, actually no, a super yacht with an unlimited supply of food, water, crew, music and mates.

9. Q: Where do you see yourself in ten years time?
On that desert island. With the extras.

10. Q: What is your philosophy in life?
Live life not by your promises, but by your actions.

Sound Circles – Breakaway Report

Editor’s Note:
Breakaway has received funding from the Regional Arts Development Fund to run sixteen weeks of Sound Circles workshops with Access Arts. This report gives us an update on what they’ve been up to.

Breakaway Inc. is a community respite house supporting people with disabilities and their families, in the Redcliffe, Caboolture and Pine Rivers areas.

Breakaway provides overnight respite for individuals with high support needs.

From my desk at Breakaway I would like to speak on behalf of all our budding Sound Circlers, how enriched our program has become, since we have tuned into the wonderful sounds of silence, surprise, excitement, astonishment, group togetherness and discovery, it makes you want to shout from the tallest tree, “hey come share what we have it is FANTASTIC!”

Our group of guests have very high needs and depend on their support companions to experience what all people take for granted. Sound Circle has given the opportunity for each individual that participates the opportunity to grow to bring out their abilities, talents and likes as well as dislikes. Together we are growing and learning from each other. We are finding the simplest of things we do have the most profound effect. I have witnessed some guests becoming totally focused and calmed within their selves. I have seen support companions become uninhibited and "letting it Loose".

Our Sound circle groups are contagious as well. We are having a ball every week, and somehow the word is out and others want to be infected. This in itself is a great WOW!!!!!!!!

We are learning to bring each other together, progressing to become confident in sharing ourselves as well as facilitating what we can do to enhance the quality of life for our guests, friends,and companions. We have gone from experimenting with different sounds, to movement, imagination, enjoying the beauty of dance, song and friendship, individual art form, that merged to make one astounding tapestry of colour and form, musical making frenzy could not even keep the toes or the hammers from tapping out a beat, to a water ceremony down at the beach, theme being "B ". Blue sky, blue water, bridge, birds, boats bbbbbbbbbb…

Facilitators Majella Jacobson and Peter Vance have been a hit from the moment we met them. They guide us with gentle support, and encouragement, they go with the flow, and are always very excited at our outcomes. We are very fortunate to know and work as well as play with the two most beautifully talented and special people.

We do not want the celebrations to stop, and with the interest of many people around I know we can and will keep our Sound Circle going, drawing in the amazing talents of all we meet.

We already have to opportunity to share our circle with our Mothers on Friday with a Special Mother's Day Morning tea. The next week we are to perform at the Local library for a well-being expo, this is very exciting. This gives our Sound circle a chance to not only participate in the community as a citizen but to give to others, the joy we make together.

Thank you to Majella and Pete. Thank you to the Access Arts team (You guys Rock)

- Carollyn Furner and the Breakaway Sound Circle

Nambour Special School Sound Circles

The Sunshine Coast Sound Circles team began workshops at the Nambour Special School in February. We have been working with approximately twenty children, seven teachers and two facilitators. The first term was a challenging time due to the high support needs of the group. We persevered however and the group has been able to establish its own form of creative fun. We are now into the second term and the group has evolved as students became more familiar with the Sound Circles process.

Workshops have had a drama focus due to the group’s interest in this art form and we have been using a lot of role-play and song-based activities. Over time the participants have freed up and released their inhabitations which has allowed for lots of spontaneous in-put. We’d like to congratulate the students and teachers for their fantastic contributions and we look forward to continuing to create more sensational sounds and experiences with you in the coming workshops!

- Sally & Fleur (Sound Circles facilitators)

Salaam Project

The Salaam Project is an initiative of the Islamic Women’s Association of Queensland (IWAQ), in partnership with Access Arts, to profile the work of women’s contributions to the rich Islamic traditions of Arts and Culture through a ten week series of workshops run by six women arts/craft workers/cultural workers in a number of communities. 60 workshops will be held and a total of 120 workshop participants will actively engage with the artists who will themselves be from different cultural and artistic backgrounds. The resulting works, performances and artefacts will then be brought together as an exhibition to tour regionally throughout 2009.

This project comes about through the need for a community driven effort to show the wider Australian community that women of Islamic backgrounds come from a rich variety of social and geographical backgrounds. The workshops will encourage members of the IWAQ community to focus their collective attention on the positive impacts of the arts within their daily lives. The wide range of art forms from painting and performing to singing will encourage members to respond to a set of common themes creatively. Our main aim for the workshops is to encourage an exploration of journeys and stories through the use of painting, sculpture, multimedia investigations, song, dance and performance.

Under the guidance of Project Manager Mandana Mapar and in partnership with Access Arts, the project has been made possible by Arts Queensland through a Creative Communities Sector Development and Presentation grant which will fund the employment of 8 artsworkers and support 11 volunteer staff to carry out the project work, and the Touring Exhibition Partnership Plan of Museum and Gallery Services Queensland, with assistance from the Australia Council, the Federal Government's arts funding and advisory body. The Salaam project is being documented by filmmaker Teone Reinthal.

For further information please contact the Salaam Project Manager Mandana Mapar on 5581-6520 or by email, or contact Ross Barber or Angela Jaeschke at Access Arts on 3358 6200 or by email.

Visual Arts Report

Welcome back to all BOA members for Term 2. I would also like to welcome the new members that have joined the group this term. BOA regional members are welcome to phone or email the office at any time if they would like information or support with their arts practice.

BOA Term 2 Dates: Monday 28 April to Tuesday 17 June

From Darkness to Light

The BOA Group Exhibition has been extended for one more month until the end of May, so if you haven’t visited the exhibition at the Garden City Library, there is more time to do so. Complimentary exhibition catalogues and bookmarks are available at the library.

Garden City Library
Garden City Shopping Centre
Cnr. Logan and Kessels Rd
Upper Mt Gravatt

Library opening hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9.00am to 5.30pm
Thursday – 9.00am to 8.00pm
Saturday – 9.00am to 3.00pm
Sunday – 10.00am to 4.00pm

Access Arts Staff Cultural Awareness Training

On Monday 21st April, Access Arts key staff and volunteers participated in a half day cultural awareness training session facilitated by respected Indigenous Elder Auntie Flo Watson. This session gave staff an awareness of how to best approach and form partnerships with Indigenous communities and an outline of appropriate Indigenous protocols.

The session included interactive presentations from other respected Indigenous guests. Colin Terare gave an insight into traditional and modern Indigenous communication styles and Auntie Lilla Watson took us on a poignant journey through the eyes of an Aboriginal person. Charismatic Torres Strait Islander guest speaker Wally Waria also shared great insight into his culture.

Funded by the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, this session was part of Access Arts’ continuous improvement project. This project will enable Access Arts to strengthen its partnerships with Indigenous communities throughout the state, build new relationships as well as ensure staff have the necessary skills to work with a range of communities.

As a result of the training, staff expressed that they look forward to deepening their understanding of Indigenous cultures in the future through ongoing liaison with the session facilitators and Queensland communities. Access Arts Membership Services Officer Julie Jones, who is of Indigenous heritage, thoroughly enjoyed the session and commented that “everyone learnt from this session and it was very worthwhile”.

Access Arts would like to thank Auntie Flo Watson, Colin Terare, Auntie Lilla Watson and Wally Waria for their time and rich, invaluable knowledge that they shared with all those in attendance.

- Sally Josephson (Project Coordinator)

Respite Reaps Creative Rewards for Artists and Their Families

Creative Respite Options has revealed the works of the program’s participants in its most recent evening showcase at Brisbane Powerhouse on Friday, 2nd May. Creative Respite Options is a successful Access Arts program that provides creative and flexible respite and leisure activities to senior carers and the person they care for. As part of this program, a number of talented artists have emerged and this evening showcase provided a fantastic opportunity for participants to show off their creative talents.

Sally Josephson, Project Coordinator and Creative Respite Options facilitator proclaimed the night “a huge success with the Creative Respite artists truly shining when sharing their art works and performances with their family, friends and general public. They’re such a talented group of people and I feel honoured to work with them.”

The evening was enjoyed by an attendance of Creative Respite Options participants’ family, friends and other arts enthusiasts who witnessed a thrilling performance from Matthew Lys involving a three-metre tall lantern puppet called “Werewolf” choreographed to the Michael Jackson hit “Thriller”.

The crowd at the soiree were also treated to impromptu speeches from Ted Herrmann, Master of Ceremonies in training, who also provided pieces for the exhibition including a handmade drum adorned with pictures of horses and a portrait of Harry Potter’s house and car from the best selling novel series.

Greg Johnstone premiered his short film, “Mr. Atlas” where the protagonist, Mr. Atlas, loses planet Earth while playing basketball with it. Mr. Atlas then embarks on a humorous journey to recover it before God finds out about his blunder, which takes him to beautiful, sometimes distracting, locations in his search.

A homage on canvas to the Queensland Police Service was the focus of Roanne Possingham’s work inspired by her long interest in the police and their contributions to the community. This passion was reflected in one particular piece with the words “POLICE ARE COOL”.

A poster by Mark Scassola told the story of his love for dancing through photographs and hand drawn pictures and text. Through Creative Respite Mark has begun dance lessons and enjoyed sharing this new passion with those in attendance at the event.

Jessica Townsend, Project Officer at Access Arts expressed her delight in the achievements of the Creative Respite Options participants and that it made her “proud to be involved with the event and part of an organization that helps people in such an artistically positive way”.

Access Arts would like to thank all the artists and staff who contributed to the evening as well as the audience, who all helped make the night such a great success.

- William Meehan (Marketing Coordinator)

National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy

The Commonwealth Government is committed to the development of a National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy which is “a key part of the Government’s response to increasing employment opportunities for people with disability and/or mental illness who wish to work.” Submissions are currently being sought on a discussion paper jointly released last month by the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, Minister for Employment Participation and the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services.

The paper states that the strategy “is also part of the Rudd Government’s productivity agenda. We recognize that lifting participation rates beyond their current levels will reduce inflationary pressures in the economy and maintain economic growth rates. People with disability and/or mental illness have an enormous amount to contribute to society. Increasing the engagement in the workforce and community life of people with disability and/or mental illness benefits the individuals concerned, their families and the wider community.”

Submissions can be made either by telling your personal story or using a structured submission form. For a copy of the discussion paper and to download submission forms, visit www.deewr.gov.au/employmentstrategy or for hard copies of the forms or copies in alternative formats call 1800 047 848.

Bill Shorten MP visited Access Arts recently to learn more about our programs and discuss barriers to participation and employment in the arts. We also attended a consultation meeting regarding the development of the national strategy where we put forward a range of suggestions to improve training and employment outcomes for people with disabilities or mental illness. These included the need for an audit of tertiary institutions to ensure that they are providing the full range of support services required by students with disabilities, calling for meaningful targets for employment of people with disabilities or mental illness within local, state and commonwealth Government at all levels from traineeships through to senior management and suggesting that the current funding to support people with disabilities to attend disability-related conferences be expanded to provide support for attendance at any conference or event of interest to the individual.

We were disappointed that of the 120 people who attended the meeting, only a small number were people with disabilities. For this reason it is even more important that as many submissions as possible are received from people with disabilities and people with a mental illness. We encourage you to contribute your stories and practical suggestions to the consultation process which closes on 30 June.

Music Students Take Unusual Journey

When you enter the Griffith University Queensland Conservatorium of Music, you are immediately embraced by beautiful music from opera to jazz and everything in between. But on Tuesday, 5 May, 8 first-year music students were challenged to take a rather unusual musical journey which resulted in the creation of some new music and movement whilst raising the students’ awareness of disability issues.

Using Access Arts’ ever popular and flexible Sound Circles process, the students experienced the discomfort associated with being excluded as a result of a disability and had the opportunity to compose and perform two small group arrangements with several members in each group wearing blindfolds. The traditional sound bath almost had to be abandoned due to time constraints, but in response to unprecedented enthusiasm from the students it made it into the program after all. A musical brawl broke out, (some kind of debate about whether housework is fun and whether a blind person should in fact be permitted to drive a motor vehicle!) which created a spirited yet harmonious finale to the ninety minute session.

For two of the facilitators, Emma Bennison and Hayley Kitchener, a partnership with the Conservatorium has been a long-term aspiration given that both have Bachelors of Music, Hayley’s from the Conservatorium and Emma’s from the University of Queensland. The students responded to the examples and advice which they drew from their personal experiences of being music students with disabilities. Access Arts is keen to continue to work closely with the Conservatorium and we would particularly like to express our gratitude to Gregg Howard, Senior Lecturer for his ongoing commitment to working with us and to supporting students with disabilities attending the Conservatorium well beyond what is generally accepted reasonable adjustment practice. We sincerely thank the students for their enthusiastic participation and willingness to take the journey with us and look forward to future collaborative activities between the two organizations.

Update from Amelia Dowe

Hi, my name's Amelia. From sometime in 2004 until the end of 2006, I was an Access Arts volunteer, from early 2006 a Sound Circles facilitator, and the whole time a general Access Arts fan! I have been living in Tokyo for just over one year now. It's an interesting place to be - I've heard a lot of people say that the population of Australia is pretty much the same as that of Tokyo!

I've only been working here a few weeks, but my highlight so far has been meeting Mr Tako and his Tako-lele! ('Tako' means octopus in Japanese.) Mr Tako is an otherwise quiet and unremarkable young man, who, when the moment takes him, sits a giant red stuffed octopus on top of his head (not a real one unfortunately!) and transforms himself into the Octopus Man! The tentacles cover half his body, but don't stop him from playing the Tako-lele! The Tako-lele was once just an average ukulele, but it has been permanently transformed. Not only has the front panel been changed to disguise it as an octopus, but it also plugs into a mini-amplifier attached to Mr Tako's belt to make a fantastic electric ukulele sound. ...But that's not the end of it! A theremin (similar to a radio antenna, and makes a sound when you put your hand close to it, the pitch changes depending on the way your move your hand) has also been attached!! So, when Mr Tako gets tired of playing just the average electric Tako-lele, he can switch to the electro-theremin-Tako-lele-wonder-machine!! I think it's the best thing I've seen all year! Maybe the best part of it is that his wife and kid are so used to the whole thing that they act as if he's not doing anything more exciting than sitting around writing emails on his mobile phone.

I have just started a new job here at a place called Design Festa. I thought some of you at Access Arts could be interested in it...

You shut yourself away in your bedroom or your garage for months, concentrating on that one painting, that one poem, that one dance-move. You finally emerge, months later, triumphant! A masterpiece has been born! But it's not always easy trying to work out where to go to next. You want to show your art to the world, but how? Back in Tokyo in 1994, a group of people pondered over exactly this same problem. They decided to take action. They got together to start a new art movement celebrating creativity in any form, and showcasing it to the world! This is Design Festa!

Design Festa is now Asia's largest art event, and happens every year in May and in November. Last year's November event saw people from 30 countries participate, 53 000 people walk through the door, and a massive 7 000 people exhibit their work. Design Festa is no longer just an event, but also a gallery. In 1998, the Design Festa Gallery was opened in central Tokyo. It runs throughout the year, keeping the good vibes going all year long!

Anyone can be an exhibitor as long as their work is their own original creation. All you have to do is rent a space or a time slot, and you are free to do whatever you want and be part of the creative chaos! Many people use Design Festa as the next step in their creative careers, expanding their networks. Other people simply take part to share and exchange art and ideas with people from all over the world. For more information on how to exhibit or perform, email Amelia, or go to www.designfesta.com.

What's On

Visions and Voices Exhibition

When:17-23 May 2008 Suncorp Piazza, South Bank

The Schizophrenia Fellowship’s Art Exhibition is a unique event in Brisbane’s artistic year. This year, the exhibition will feature 470 pieces from 157 artists living with a mental illness. The art works allow a view of the word seen through the mind’s eye of mental illness. This exhibition provides the opportunity to acquire pieces, with prices ranging from $15 to $2000. Johnathon Welch, from ABC’s Choir of Hard Knocks, will open Visions and Voices at a cocktail party on Friday 16 May. Tickets for the cocktail party are available now for $60 per person. For more information please contact the Fellowship on 07 3358 4424 or visit www.sfq.org.au.

AART.BOXX

AART.BOXX is an exhibition opportunity for artists aged 30 or under with a disability. So if you would like to get your work OUT THERE, this just might be the ticket. Selected works for AART.BOXX will be showcased at the Tin Sheds Gallery in October 2008. For more information on Tin Sheds Gallery check out this link faculty.arch.usyd.edu.au/art_workshop/.

Entries must be sent to Accessible Arts by Monday 16th June, 2008.

For more information contact Josie Cavallaro, Arts Development Officer ph: (02) 9251 6499 email: jcavallaro@aarts.net.au or log onto Accessible Arts’ website: www.aarts.net.au

Maleny Art Awards and Exhibition

www.malenyartawards.com

6th June – 9 June, 2008

St George’s Anglican Church
Cnr Tallowwood St and Walker’s Drive, Maleny

Entries close – 19th May

Total prize money - $12,650

Everyone is always asking me “Where is Alicia Jones? What’s she up to?”

For those of you who would like to catch up with her, on Thursday 22nd May, Alicia is appearing at the State Library in The 3R’s exploring similarities between Aborigines and Native American Indians.

Time: 6:30pm -7:30pm

On Friday 23rd May, Alicia is performing with other artists in a karaoke battle also at the State Library from 6:30pm – 9:30pm. Both performances are in Kuril Dhagan the indigenous area of the State Library Level 1 South Bank.

- Julie Jones - Membership Services Officer

Coolamon – Carrying the Culture

As part of Brisbane City Council's Cultural Connections in Libraries program, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities present their cultures to the wider community. Come along and share with Brisbane's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in a month of displays, performances, authors' talks, lectures and workshops profiling their culture and traditions.

Brisbane Square Library will be transformed into a 'keeping place' where cultural artefacts, artworks and historical photos will be displayed and movies shown.

Where: Brisbane Square Library and Customer Centre, 266 George St, Brisbane

When:Until Sunday 25th May 2008

For more information, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/libraries or call Council on (07) 3403 8888.

Originals

Celebrate the Original Voices of Australia and North America, 19-23 May.

Gather for a unique collaboration of traditional and contemporary performances featuring the cast of Reflections, songwriter Getano Bann and poet Yvette Walker.

Internationally-acclaimed Arigon Starr performs her one-woman comedy The Red Road – a celebration of everyday folks from Indian Country USA.

Battle it out in the Murrioke Challenge with MC Steven Oliver, Poetic Murriz and a surprise grand finale.

Check out www.slq.qld.gov.au/originals for the full program of free events on every night. State Library of Queensland Cultural Centre, South Bank.

Fête de la Musique - Call for Musicians!!

The world’s largest international live music event hits Brisbane for the first time ever!!

JOIN US on Saturday 21 June from 11am till late as we celebrate music in Brisbane with free outdoor performances around the city.

From soloists to orchestras, jazz to hip-hop and choirs to rock bands – No matter your style, age or experience - WE WANT YOU TO JOIN US!!

Visit the website for more information and to register.

www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/fetedelamusique

REGISTRATIONS CLOSE SOON!!

Presented by Brisbane City Council with Brisbane Marketing and Alliance Française and supported by Courier Mail .

The deadline for inclusion in the June newsletter is 3rd June. Please send newsletter items to Karen by email or post to Access Arts.

Access Arts Logo

Access Arts Inc (Queensland)
Ph: 07 3358 6200
Fax: 07 3358 6211
Local Call Cost: 1300 663 651
Level 1 Stores Building
119 Lamington St
PO Box 1034
New Farm QLD 4005
Web: www.accessarts.org.au
Email: info@accessarts.org.au