06/30/2009 Demonstrate - Participate - Create July 16, 23, & 30, 2009 Thursdays, 12:00 - 2:00 pm Access Gallery 3701 Guadalupe St., #103 Austin, TX 78705 512-323-6626 accessgallery@vsatx.org Drop into Access Gallery on Thursdays in July between 12-2 pm to join Imagine Art artists featured in the current exhibition as they demonstrate their art form and give you a chance to try their technique or medium. FREE. Art supplies provided.

06/22/2009 MA Inclusive Arts Practice, University of Brighton 2 years part-time. Applications now being taken for September 2009 This new course is aimed at artists or individuals working in the arts, health, education or community sector. The course aims to equip students with the necessary skills to initiate and manage truly inclusive arts projects with diverse and marginalised groups. Through the course you will be able to explore key issues in the inclusive arts debate by collaborating artistically with individuals or community groups such as people with learning disabilities or those experiencing exclusion due to economic or health reasons. For details of course curriculum visit http://courses.brighton.ac.uk/course.php?cnum=1063 For more information contact Liz Adams, Academic Programme Administrator, Email: e.adams@brighton.ac.uk, Tel: 01273 643097

02/02/2009 Upper Hunter Home Among the Stars Regional focus: A partnership between Integrated Living Australia and St Joseph’s High School in Aberdeen continues to provide opportunities in the Upper Hunter for inclusive creative arts. Alison Richardson from Accessible Arts, Emma Palmer and filmmaker David Lawrence recently spent a week in the region with a large group of people from both the high school and the disability support service. Through video interviews, theatre games, scene creation, object sculptures and movement routine the group devised a 40 minute show called Home Among the Stars. A short documentary of the week was also produced. Alison said, "It is a huge undertaking from everyone involved from the performers to the support workers, students and volunteers, to deliver a show in four and half days. But with the enthusiasm of the whole community and Chic Taylor from Integrated Living Australia at the helm, it is an unforgettable time for each person involved." For more information contact Alison Richardson, tel: 02 9251 6499 ext 7 or arichardson@aarts.net.au.

06/30/2009 Olimpias Workshops/Participatory Performance Event: Burning A Disability Culture Project, led by Petra Kuppers and Neil Marcus Subterranean Arthouse, Bancroft Ave (between Shattuck and Fulton), Berkeley Wednesdays 8, 15, 22, 29 of July, 7-9 pm,performance sharing with gallery exhibit: Thursday, July 30th, 7-9 pm Come and explore through movement the fantasies, potentials and tensions of our new Olimpias happening/score/script. Put words in your mouth: what does it feel like to speak of cancer, of leprosy and environmental toxicity? What happens when bodies change, undergo transformation, expose themselves? What happens as you let images and poetry of poison and healing roll down your veins? We have a script, not a linear play -- scenes emerge from it like flowers out of earth. No experience necessary, we do not require a commitment to come to all workshops or the sharing, we honor all forms of embodiment and identification, and we want to learn about access and respect together. Space rental donation suggestion: $10, no one turned away for lack of funds. www.olimpias.org http://subterraneanarthouse.org

06/16/2009 Under the agreement, Westminster Fibers will develop a new fabric collection under their FreeSpirit fabric brand featuring the acclaimed, vibrantly colored artwork by award-winning blind painter George Mendoza, who has twice been featured in PBS documentaries: The George Mendoza Story, narrated by Robert Duvall (1989) and Vision of the Soul — The George Mendoza Story (2006). The new 100% cotton fabric collection, which will debut in October 2009 at the International Quilt Market Show in Houston, Texas, will feature various paintings from George's larger body of work, which has touched millions of lives through a rigorous career filled with gallery shows, personal appearances and media coverage. High-resolution fabric images available for download here: http://www.kerncomm.com/MendozaFabrics.zip.

06/02/2009 NWDS Radio - a collective experience Community radio station 2CCRfm 90.5, is hosting a new radio show by a collective of people from North West Disability Services. NWDS Radio will provide a weekly magazine radio program that reflects news, issues, aspirations and achievements of people with disability based in Holroyd, Parramatta and Hills districts. Inam al-Haqq from NWDS explains, "NWDS Radio is a breakthrough event in the disability field. It is the first initiative of its kind where people with disability, their carers and professionals are gathered together in one avenue to create quality radio." The team of NWDS Radio is comprised of NWDS service users who are primarily people with intellectual disabilities, NWDS staff, carers, TAFE teachers and other disability professionals. The show is providing people with disability an opportunity to develop media and broadcasting skills as well as voice a collective experience of disability.

04/14/2009 Sync South East Sync South East is a new leadership development programme designed to support and develop Deaf and disabled people and disability arts organisations and projects in the South East of England so that they can reach their true potential. Two programmes are available, one for individuals and one for organisations (and projects). Both include real time and virtual elements, individually tailored content and coaching. The programmes are both spread over two and a half years - no 'quick fix' this, and it builds on the learning from a smaller national disability leadership programme called Sync (you can find out more about this national programme at www.syncleadership.co.uk). Sync's definition of 'disability' is wide. If you have an impairment and experience access barriers as a result of it, then your experience and perspective is valued.

03/10/2009 The Creative Industries & Community Economic Revitalization Act of 2010 CAA the premier statewide arts advocacy organization is sponsoring innovating and groundbreaking legislation that will: Invest in the economic revitalization of California's communities by Encouraging joint partnerships to enhance investment of public resources To enable the growth of the creative economy through the state of California http://www.californiaartsadvocates.org/ab700.html

05/26/2009 Trustees for Holton Lee Holton Lee exists to improve the quality of life for disabled people through the arts and creativity, the environment and personal growth and spirituality. They are looking for both a new chair of trustees and new trustees to bring energy, fresh perspectives and diverse skills and experience to Holton Lee. They are particularly keen to recruit disabled people to the board in line with their long-term aim to be a disability led organisation.

05/26/2009 Last week Oska Bright has launched its fundraising campaign for a new mobile cinema. They want to raise GBP 450,000 to design, build and run the cinema. Housed in a converted Routemaster bus, it will take films to those members of the learning disabled community who have no access to transport, offering them the opportunity to watch inspirational, award winning short films. http://www.oskabright.co.uk/

05/26/2009 The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched the first stage of its new £10 million 'Strategic Funding Programme', providing three-year funding of up to GBP 450,000 for community and voluntary sector organisations. * Priority One - Providing guidance, advice and advocacy services; infrastructure development and capacity building * Priority Two - Good Relations http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102590217723&s=3769&e=0018EVJXP2NscWFWvZ25u1QhOTf1YTPHNAlch--4BhuPJjMmVrh0hNYIcK8rz6cYxIdVAG7TFs34ZpYqvw1CIF10yQ2FetfFDFPgEsviwb-q6um3DiSp4zj4mDkNyOPqiYyVq7Ii3EOhsw=

05/21/2009 Arts Access SA Advice for artists with a disability Arts Access SA has established a weekly consultant service to help artists with disabilities to get the most out of their arts and to become self-sufficient. Each Thursday from 9am to 1pm appointments are available for artists with disabilities to gain expertise and advice. For more information contact Arts Access SA on 08 8224 0799 or info@artsaccess-sa.org.au

05/21/2009 New Disability Action Plan for national arts agency In conjunction with Arts Access Australia, the Australia Council for the Arts has developed a new arts and disability action plan 2008 - 2010 to guide the organisation in its operations, programs and strategies in relation to access and equity for people with disabilities. For more information - http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/about_us/policies2/disability_and_the_arts_action_plan_2008-2010

05/21/2009 Accentuate is a most impressive multi-agency, cross-sectoral initiative funded by Legacy Trust (GBP 1.9 million!) due to launch by summer 2009. It takes its inspiration from the South East region's heritage as the birthplace of the Paralympics and aims to put disabled people at the heart of the programme.The overall goal of the programme is to use the inspiration provided by the International Paralympic Movement to tackle disadvantage, raise aspirations and celebrate excellence.

05/12/2009 GIMP Review in Dance Magazine – Articles/Publications category "GIMP is without doubt a gleaming milestone in the progress of contemporary dance and theater, proving that the term "disabled dancer" is an oxymoron... The purpose here is not to assert any kind of qualitative hierarchy. Rather, the performers are like a thicket of trees subsisting on the same soil, light, and water, but each expressing its response to those elements with irrefutable distinction."

05/04/2009 NEW IN OUR SHOP: DVD OF PLAYING FROM THE HEART Just Imagine: the Shop at Imagination Stage now has in stock the DVD of Playing from the Heart, the acclaimed production about percussionist Evelyn Glennie. It features the wonderful cast of Imagination Stage's fall '08 production and costs $24.99. The shop also has the music CD of the tuneful new production of Heidi for just $8.99. While there, be sure to check out new products from the outdoor collection from Melissa and Doug and creative gifts for mothers and grandmothers for Mother's Day.

05/04/2009 STUDENT FILM WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD Congratulations to Luke Williams whose film "Bourgeois Blues" was awarded First Place in the film category in McCormick Freedom Museum's 3rd annual student expression contest. Luke completed his film, a 17-minute documentary about several people who lived through the Jim Crow era, in the Independent Film Study Program at Imagination Stage. The film was shown in the "Seen and Heard" exhibit at the McCormick Freedom Museum in Chicago during the month of April. Luke attends the Sidwell Friends school and has been taking filmmaking classes at Imagination Stage since he was 11 years old.

05/04/2009 Congratulations to Chris Tally Evans, who has won a Major Creative Wales Award of GBP 25,000. The Award is similar to research and development money in other sectors and helps artists grow creatively at critical points in their careers. The disabled rights activist works as Artistic Consultant for Disability Arts Cymru and Director of their acclaimed Unusual Stage School. He has also just completed a series for Radio 4, 'My Mile of the River'. Chris works through theatre and storytelling in live and recorded forms, digital stories and stand-up

04/27/2009 Talking Shop May 7th, 6-9pm, Toynbee Arts Café and Bar, 28 Commercial Street, London E1 6AB The Live Art Advisory Network is a partnership between Artsadmin, Live Art Development Agency and New Work Network to support artists through professional development initiatives. Talking Shop: surgeries and networking will be a free event for recent graduates and early career artists (up to three years making work) working in the areas of live art and interdisciplinary performance practices, offering both advice and information from LAAN.

03/12/2009 Saatchi & Saatchi London created this fun new spot as part of its European "Life flows better with Visa" campaign. It stars Bill Shannon, a freestyle dance artist who was born with a degenerative hip condition and has come up with a fascinating way of dancing on crutches. Some are ragging on Saatchi for essentially copying a music video by the band RJD2 that also features Shannon. And that's a fair point, though it's still nice to see Shannon getting a wider audience through advertising. Visa has posted a behind-the-scenes video from the shoot to its YouTube channel. Nicely done, Saatchi & Saatchi.This is the kind of innovative, fresh approach that deserves an award. Best to all, Lawrence

03/10/2009 The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is pleased to announce the winners of the prestigious 2009 Paul G. Hearne Leadership Award, Maureen McKinnon-Tucker, Stephanie Enyart and Victor Pineda. http://www.aapd.com/Communications/2009LeadershipWinner.html

02/11/2009 TL Forsberg, one of the main subjects in the documentary "See What I'm Saying" was interviewed by Fantastics Magazine. TL Forsberg - magazine story http://www.fantasticsmag.com/node/2740

02/11/2009 Our Title Song on iTunes Our title song SEE WHAT I'M SAYING by Powder is now up on iTunes. A percentage of all sales go towards the production of a music video, so check it out! Go to iTunes, search "See What I'm Saying" and choose the one by Powder. They are in development of a music video in sign language to make this song accessible to everyone. http://www.seewhatimsayingmovie.com/

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