Policy Submission: Renewed National Arts and Disability Strategy

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Summary

This review of the National Arts and Disability Strategy provides a valuable opportunity to explore ways for people living with disability to become more involved in the artistic and cultural life of their communities, including as artists, performers, audience members, volunteers and employees. A more inclusive arts sector has the potential to bring about social, health and economic benefits for individuals, their families and their wider communities. Better enabling participation in the arts also gives people living with disability the opportunity to showcase their talents and tell their stories, thereby breaking down misconceptions and stereotypes and paving the way for even greater inclusion.

Recommendations

We make the following recommendations:

Recommendation 1

Ensure that the National Arts and Disability Strategy is consistent with the National Disability Strategy. In particular, ensure that the National Arts and Disability Strategy reaffirms the responsibility of governments at all levels to ensure that mainstream arts and cultural services, facilities, programs and events are available, inclusive and fully accessible for people living with disability.

Recommendation 2

Encourage and support linkages between arts and cultural organisations and National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) partner organisations that provide local area coordination services, to increase awareness in the disability community of available opportunities to engage in the arts.

Recommendation 3

Encourage and support linkages between arts and cultural organisations and Information, Linkages and Capacity-Building (ILC) grant recipients, to increase awareness in the disability community of available opportunities to engage in the arts.

Recommendation 4

Encourage and support arts and cultural organisations to showcase positive stories about people living with disability who have undertaken volunteering and employment opportunities, focusing on the benefits for both the individual and the organisation.

Recommendation 5

Secure greater investment from state and territory and/or Commonwealth governments in individual and systemic advocacy services for people living with disability, to support them to actively participate in – and help to shape – the mainstream artistic and cultural life of their communities.