Two FREE screen-based events celebrating the creativity of people with disability are set to be highlights of activities marking next month’s International Day Of People With Disability (Dec 3).
Presented with the support of national peak disability advocacy organisation People With Disability Australia, the two events are:
- Dec 2 – 4: The world premiere season of four new video artworks by artists with disability at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art
- Dec 17: The 5th annual Inclusive Film Festival livestreamed nationally from Sydney’s historic Petersham Town Hall.
The video artworks have been created by artists Sue Jo Wright, Sarah Houbolt, Robert Sherwood Duffield and Debra Keenahan via Accessible Art’s ArtScreen initiative and explore a range of themes and issues related to their experience of disability. The artworks will be officially launched at a premiere event on the International Day of People With Disability on December 3.
The artworks will have FREE public screenings at the MCA on Thursday 2 December, 12.30pm – 2.30pm and on Sat 4 Dec 12.30pm – 2.30pm. The Saturday screening will be followed by a Q&A with the artists. All artworks can be viewed with closed captioning, audio description or Auslan interpretation. For more information please visit the Accessible Arts website.
The Inclusive Film Festival is set to feature a totally FREE and fabulous program of disability-focused screen and stage entertainment. Presented by the Inner West Council in partnership with PWDA and other local organisations, IFF is a live, COVID-safe and fully accessible event at Petersham Town Hall on Friday 17 December from 6pm – 9:30pm. It will also be live streamed for audiences around the country. For more information and to register, please visit the Inner West Council website.
The program features screenings of seven award-winning short films by filmmakers with disability along with live acts by comedian Jamal Abdul and singers Lara Nakhle and Connor Wink. There’ll also be a panel discussion about disability storytelling curated by PWDA featuring filmmakers Dane Noonan, Emily Dash, Walter Lee and Andrew Tresidder, writer Gayle Kennedy and SBS journalist Evan Young.
Guests at the live event will receive FREE snack packs, popcorn, chocolates and soft drinks. Guests will also be able to bring their own drinks and snacks if they want and have an indoor picnic in the hall. In terms of accessibility, there’ll be audio description, Auslan interpreters, closed captions, accessible seating, hearing loops and a quiet zone. Assistance animals will be welcome.
PWDA CEO Sebastian Zagarella: “The International Day Of People With Disability is an important opportunity to acknowledge, honour and celebrate people with disability and the vital contributions they make to our community here in Australia and throughout the world.
“PWDA is delighted to be supporting these two activities which showcase the talent and creativity of artists, performers, filmmakers and writers with disability. We hope lots of people will enjoy these fantastic events which will provide our community with access to some great disability-focused art and entertainment.”
Media enquires:
People with Disability Australia
Media and Communications | 0491 034 479
media@pwd.org.au