Perth International Arts Festival to host national forum on arts and disability

For the first time, Perth will host a major national forum on arts and disability thanks to a partnership between Arts Access Australia and the Perth International Arts Festival.

Meeting Place will be co-hosted by PIAF and AAA, the peak national body for arts and disability, on 1st and 2nd March during the 2017 festival.

Arts Access Australia (AAA) and the Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF) are dedicated to smashing barriers, broadening understanding and improving skills and access in the field of disability and the arts.

This initiative is part of PIAF’s ongoing partnership with Western Australia’s not-for-profit community disability arts organisation DADAA to support cultural exchange between outstanding national and international artists with disability and the state’s arts and disability community.

Meeting Place provides a platform for learning, discussion and debate on issues impacting artists, arts workers and arts leaders with disability and those with an interest in the arts and disability sector.

AAA Chief Executive Emma Bennison says that having PIAF as a co-host will take Meeting Place to the next level, stating “Meeting Place already has a strong national reputation for delivering innovative and thought-provoking conversations which go beyond what a traditional conference can offer.

“Our relationship with PIAF will enable us to bring Meeting Place to Perth. We will also benefit from the insights of internationally acclaimed artists and leaders presented in PIAF 2017.”

Award-winning Artistic Director of leading UK disability theatre company Graeae, Jenny Sealey MBE, who co-directed the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony, will be among the Meeting Place delegates coming to Perth.

PIAF Artistic Director Wendy Martin says the opportunity to co-host Meeting Place with AAA will further the Festival’s commitment to access and programming high-quality work by artists with disability, adding “we are delighted to be collaborating with AAA to bring this unique national conversation and showcase to Perth.

“We see it as an important step in cementing our vision of an accessible festival, bringing quality work by artists with disability to a mainstream festival context.

“Here it can be enjoyed by audiences who might not otherwise be exposed to such works. We look forward to this significant event being part of our Festival in 2017.”

PIAF runs from 10th February to 5th March next year.

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Image: Guide Gods at the 2016 Perth International Arts Festival.

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