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Down Syndrome NSW
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Thursday 3 July 2008

2008 Biennale of Sydney Celebrates Access

Lord Mayor’s Community Access Day
Saturday 23 August 2008, 10am – 4:30pm


The 2008 Biennale of Sydney, Australia’s leading festival of contemporary art, opens up the world of art for people with disabilities. With over 180 of the world’s most exciting artists on show, the Biennale of Sydney will illustrate sound of a video installation to the Deaf, offer visual interpretation of a painting through signing to the Blind, and provide physical access into exhibitions, as part of their program. Under the theme Revolutions – Forms That Turn, the exhibition explores the urge to rebel - AND this is where they lead the way in festival access.

On Saturday 23rd August (from 10:00am – 4:30pm) the Biennale of Sydney, long-term partner of Accessible Arts, the NSW peak arts & disability peak organisation, will present the Lord Mayor’s Community Access Day. This daylong event, to be launched by Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover Moore, will unlock the exhibition’s key themes and artworks for people with disabilities and their carers. It will offer evocative audio descriptions and guided tours accompanied by Auslan interpreters.


The FREE tours are designed to make art accessible to all by including tactile experiences, and easy to understand descriptions for people with intellectual disabilities at each of the venues. Free wheelchair friendly transport between venues will also be available on the day.

Sancha Donald, CEO Accessible Arts said,
“The Biennale of Sydney continues to encourage and support access for people with disabilities and those who are limited to experience the arts in other capacities. By providing accessible tours and transport to the most cutting-edge contemporary art from around the world, the Biennale is setting a strong moral example for a sustainable future of the arts.”

She also added,
“It has never been more competitive to attract audiences to arts events and the Biennale has demonstrated leadership in encompassing artistic excellence and enhancing access to the 1 in 5 members of the Australian community who have a disability. I congratulate them and look forward to celebrating the Lord Mayor’s Community Access Day.”

These programs will be presented in the three principal venues – Pier 2/3, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay; Museum of Contemporary Art, West Circular Quay; and The Art Gallery of New South Wales, The Domain. The FREE accessible bus will be circulating between Circular Quay, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of NSW and Pier2/3 throughout the day enabling patrons to attend tours at all three venues.

A specific tour for people with intellectual disabilities has been scheduled during the day.

Click these links further details in .pdf files - the complete press release from Accessible Arts and Accessibility Information for all venues.

Accessible Arts website: www.aarts.net.au Click here for the news page about this event.

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