Shopfront’s award winning Accessibility Program is the only one of its kind in NSW, in offering access to young people with disability to engage in real skills development in the performing arts. Not ‘recreational’ or therapeutic in nature, the program is unique in its respect of participants as valid young artists, with views to pursuing professional practice. Established in 2009, we have become a cultural touchstone of Southern Sydney for young people with disability. Accessibility Director Margot Politis is a dance theatre artist, and recognised Australian leader in arts and disability practice. She has worked for many years with disabled artists and inclusive arts organisations across Australia, the USA and the UK. The primary focus of Margot’s work at Shopfront has been to establish a thriving arts program with young people with disability where ART is the focus. All activities are executed with a view to strengthening participants as performing artists, and thereby also eliciting personal growth. http://www.artsaccessaustralia.org/artists/performing-arts/new-south-wales/436-margot-politis
Utilising communication methods founded in research into Autism and learning disability, our programs meet participants at their point of communication style, so as to enable a dialogue that is clear and affords participants the time and space to express artistic opinions genuinely. More than doubling in size and reach over the last 3 years, the Accessibility Program is engaging more young people than ever before. The Bodylines Ensemble in particular has become renowned in the NSW Arts & Disability sector and wider arts industry, as a dance theatre ensemble producing genuinely participant-led work, that is provoking, engaging and beautiful. Projects include:
• Out of Line 2015 – reworked show for presentation at Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) Funded by the NSW Government via the Lifetime Care and Support Authority and the St George Foundation
• Out of Line – First full-length live dance theatre production, 2014. Funded by the Australia Council for the Arts and engaging participants from the Residential Bodylines Ensembles, students from Kogarah High School Support Unit, and students from the ASPECT South East Sydney School
• Reaching Out, Over & Over – dance film, 2013. Commissioned by Kogarah City Council for International Day of People with Disability 2013
http://vimeo.com/87053804
• Harness Emerging Artist Program 2013/4 – funded by Arts NSW Arts & Disability Partnerships: 3 young emerging artists with disability create their first individual projects with professional mentor support, and presented at Shopfront as part of Rule of Three season, April 2014
http://vimeo.com/95919898
• Sensory Games 2013 – interactive sensory arts program with students at Athelstane Public School, which will continue into 2016 as a program in itself called Room 13
http://placestories.com/project/8523
• Dance Is Friendship – dance film by Matthew Massaria, 2013. Funded by Arts NSW and Accessible Arts’ Amplify Your Art program
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=485675378212993&set=vb.392364834210715&type=3&theater
• Zombie vs Bird – Dance Film. Piece also performed live at the Accessible Arts NSW Arts Activated Conference 2012, and a feature project of Arts NSW/ADHC & Accessible Arts’ Delineate Program for Don’t DIS My ABILITY and International Day of People with Disability 2012
http://vimeo.com/54807532
AWARDS:
2014: FINALIST NSW Disability Industry Innovation Awards: Leadership in Promoting Inclusion
2014: Bodylines film Reaching Out, Over & Over, commissioned by Kogarah City Council, assisted their win of the NSW Local Government Arts and Culture Awards; Youth Engagement; Film and Screen
2013: WINNER Creative Partnerships Australia Arts Access Award for NSW/ACT
