PRESS RELEASE COURTESY ARTS ACCESS AUSTRALIA

Arts Access Australia congratulates the Cultural Ministers Council on the 9 October 2009 release of the National Arts and Disability Strategy. The effectiveness of the National Arts and Disability Strategy in improving cultural access and participation will also rely upon advocacy at a local level. Arts Access Australia encourages you to read and use the National Arts and Disability Strategy in discussions with arts, disability, and mental health services, organisations, programs and venues.

Arts Access Australia is the national advocacy organisation for arts and disability with members in every Australian state and territory. The National Arts and Disability Strategy is the result of several years of work by our network supported by significant input from individuals and organisations working across arts, disability and mental health.

We are particularly pleased to see all nine state, territory and federal Arts Ministers agree to make access and participation in artistic and cultural activities a priority for people with disabilities as part of the broader social inclusion agenda that includes disability, mental health, employment and education.

The National Arts and Disability Strategy sets out eight underlying principles that will guide its implementation. Ministers also agreed on four priority areas for action. These are:

• Addressing barriers to access and participation;
• Supporting artistic and cultural practice amongst those with a disability;
• Developing audiences for disability arts companies and individual artists; and
• Improving policy development and planning within governments.

Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, commended the Cultural Ministers Council.

"Arts and culture enriches us all - and with one in five Australians experiencing some form of disability, it has been an imperative to include and enable everyone who wishes to engage with such a vital part of Australian life," said Mr Garrett.

"We now strongly recommend that state and local governments, venue owners and others review this important document and incorporate it into their future planning and approach.," Mr Garrett said

"Australians with a disability face barriers to participation, whether physical, financial or social," said Mr Shorten.

"This strategy sits under a broader national strategic policy push to get people past these barriers and into full participation in the life of the community."

The National Arts and Disability Strategy complements the National Disability Strategy being developed by the Commonwealth Government in partnership with state and territory governments, the National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy and the Fourth National Mental Health Plan.

The Cultural Ministers Council will monitor progress annually and issue a communiqué providing information about the progress of the strategy. In addition, the Cultural Ministers Council will review the strategy every three years, in consultation with the arts and disability sector, to ensure that it is meeting its objectives.

Ministers also agreed to establish a steering committee to oversee implementation of the strategy.

The Strategy is the result of extensive consultation, including 115 submissions made in response to a discussion paper released in late 2008, targeted consultation with arts and disability peak bodies, and consultation with government agencies at all levels.

http://www.cmc.gov.au/working_groups/national_arts_and_disability_strategy