Arts and disability forum Meeting Place debuts in Alice Springs, reaches out for feedback from regional artists

Arts Access Australia’s annual arts and disability forum Meeting Place heads to Alice Springs for the first time in its sixth year.

The idea is to “provide a megaphone for regional artists with disability,” explains the association’s CEO Meagan Shand.

“Where 2017 saw us enter into a global dialogue on arts and disability through our first international Meeting Place (in Berlin), in 2018 we intend to bring the conversation back to the very heart of Australia.

“We look forward to working with regional artists and leaders to create access to the arts for people with disability.”

The forum will be held at the Araluen Arts Centre from September 24 to 26, and co-hosted by Incite Arts.

Around 200 national and international delegates are expected to attend, to build stronger links and collaboration between stakeholders in the arts and disability sectors.

Incite Arts’ CEO Jenine Mackay explained the Alice Springs meet would provide the opportunity for the sector to focus conversations around NT Aboriginal artists with disability, and to respond to local and Territory needs.

“Research shows Australia’s regional participation in the creative arts is in decline, largely due to decreases in remote Northern Territory and Queensland,” Mackay pointed out.

“This is very concerning, given the importance of regional Australia to our cultural narrative.

“The Meeting Place forum will provide a critical platform to discuss why this is happening and what we can do to better support our regional artists with disability.”

Tickets are available in May via the Meeting Place website.

Artists and arts workers with and without disability, representatives from arts and disability organisations, and arts and cultural leaders from local and national arts organisations and government bodies are encouraged to attend.

Meeting Place has been held previously in Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth and Berlin.

The Meeting Place in Alice Springs is supported by a grant from the NT Government’s Strategic Arts Program, a new initiative prioritising funding for artists with disabilities, independent producers/curators and arts industry development.