2013–2015 Evaluation of the National Arts and Disability
Strategy—issues paper
Meeting of Cultural Ministers Officials Working Group
March 2016
2013–2015 Evaluation of the National Arts and Disability Strategy—issues paper
March 2016
Cover image supplied by the Bundanon Trust.
Contents
Glossary ................................................................................................................................ 3
Artist .............................................................................................................................................3
Arts/cultural worker ......................................................................................................................3
Arts and cultural activity ................................................................................................................3
Disability .......................................................................................................................................3
Meeting of Cultural Ministers ........................................................................................................3
Social inclusion ..............................................................................................................................3
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ............................................3
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 4
2. Purpose ............................................................................................................................. 4
3. Background ....................................................................................................................... 5
4. Issues for consideration—Priority Areas for Action ............................................................. 5
4.1 Focus Area 1—Access and Participation ...................................................................................5
4.2 Focus Area 2—Arts and Cultural Practice .................................................................................6
4.3 Focus Area 3—Audience Development ....................................................................................7
4.4 Focus Area 4—Strategic Development .....................................................................................7
5. Stakeholder consultation ................................................................................................... 8
6. Reporting .......................................................................................................................... 9
7. 2009–2012 National Arts and Disability Strategy Evaluation ............................................... 9
7.1 Recommendations ...................................................................................................................9
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2013–2015 Evaluation of the National Arts and Disability Strategy—issues paper
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Glossary
Artist
This includes performers, visual artists, writers, film makers, multimedia artists, directors and designers.
Arts/cultural worker
This includes workers in all parts of the arts and cultural community, such as administrators, producers,
technicians, museums and gallery curators and librarians.
Arts and cultural activity
Includes arts and cultural events, institutions or services such as performances, exhibitions, theatres,
museums, galleries, libraries, cinemas and other cultural places. It does not include other recreation,
leisure and sporting activities.
Disability
People with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with
various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with
others. This definition is consistent with Article 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities. The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) (the DDA) provides protection for
everyone in Australia against discrimination based on disability. The definition of disability in the DDA
includes physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory, neurological, learning disabilities, physical
disfigurement and the presence in the body of disease-causing organisms.
Meeting of Cultural Ministers
The Meeting of Cultural Ministers comprises the Australian, state and territory government arts and
culture ministers. The Australian Local Government Association, the Australia Council for the Arts and
the Government of New Zealand are invited as observers. The Meeting of Cultural Ministers was
established in 2012 to follow the work of the Cultural Ministers Council.
Social inclusion
The right for all Australians to be able to play a full role in all aspects of Australian life. To be socially
included, all Australians must be given the opportunity to secure a job; access services; connect with
family, friends, work, personal interests and local community including cultural activities; deal with
personal crises; and have their voices heard.
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The Convention is intended as a human rights instrument with an explicit social development
dimension. It adopts a broad categorisation of persons with disabilities and reaffirms that all persons
with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Article 30 of the
Convention is specifically on participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport. Australia ratified
the Convention on 17 July 2008. It is available on the United Nations website at:
www.un.org/disabilities.
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2013–2015 Evaluation of the National Arts and Disability Strategy—issues paper
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1. Introduction
The Australian, state and territory governments recognise the importance of working together to
improve the opportunities and choices for people with disability to engage and participate in the arts.
The National Arts and Disability Strategy (Strategy) was developed in 2009 to address the barriers to full
and active citizenship and participation faced by people with disability.
Six years on from the implementation of the Strategy, the evidence indicates that people with disability
still face barriers to engaging with and participating in the arts. Eight per cent of professional artists in
Australia live with disability, compared to ten per cent of the overall workforce. Further, on average
artists with disability earn 25 per cent less from their practice than artists without disability.
Research also shows that Australians with disability are less likely to attend arts events than all
Australians (59% compared to 71%). However, they are now just as likely to creatively engage with the
arts. In 2013 nearly half of people living with disability created art. This is up from just over a third in
2009.1
This is the second evaluation that looks at the outcomes that have been achieved under the Strategy.
This evaluation will look at the current status of the arts and disability environment, in consultation with
the arts and disability sector, and assess what improvements were made during 2013–2015. In
particular, the evaluation will consider the impact of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) on
the arts and disability environment since it began rolling out in July 2013. The evaluation will also
consider where the Australian, state and territory governments can focus their efforts in future to
support the artistic aspirations and the creative engagement of people with disability.
2. Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to seek stakeholder views on the progress of outcomes achieved under the
Strategy for the 2013–2015 reporting period.
The paper identifies the key issues this evaluation proposes to consider in relation to each of the four
priority areas for action under the Strategy and poses the questions that will form the basis of the
stakeholder survey.
The primary aim of the paper is to invite comments and feedback from stakeholders on the extent to
which initiatives and activities under the Strategy have been effective in supporting, encouraging and
promoting access to, and participation in, arts and cultural activities by people with disability. The
evaluation is also seeking comment from stakeholders about how the roll out of the NDIS has
contributed to achieving the outcomes of the Strategy.
The evaluation will also seek to identify the main barriers that continue to deter inclusion in arts and
cultural activities by people with disability.
A copy of the Strategy is available in accessible formats at the Meeting of Cultural Ministers (MCM)
website.2
1
Australia Council for the Arts 2015, Arts Nation: An Overview of Australian Arts, 2015 Edition, Sydney.
2
The National Arts and Disability Strategy is available at 2 http://mcm.arts.gov.au/node/10.
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2013–2015 Evaluation of the National Arts and Disability Strategy—issues paper
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3. Background
The Strategy was established under the former Cultural Ministers Council to improve coordination and
collaboration across governments on arts and disability issues. The Council undertook to review the
effectiveness of the Strategy every three years.
The Strategy is the result of extensive consultation, including 115 submissions made in response to a
discussion paper released in late 2008, targeted consultation with arts and disability peak bodies, and
consultation with government agencies at all levels. It is guided by the principles of the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and complements other existing disability
strategies in Australia.
The Strategy provides a framework to promote a more inclusive society and to highlight best practice.
Therefore the evaluation will assess the extent to which the outcomes of initiatives and activities have
been effective in supporting inclusion in the arts for people with disability and will also report on some
of the achievements from across the Australian, state and territory governments during 2013–2015.
One of the biggest changes in the arts and disability environment since the last evaluation of the
Strategy has been the commencement of the rollout of the NDIS in July 2013. The NDIS is designed to
help improve disability services and provide greater control and decision making to people with
disability. While the NDIS roll-out is not complete, it has commenced in most states and is being
implemented in staged phases. The Evaluation will consider the extent to which the NDIS has improved
the opportunities and choices for people with disability to engage with the arts and will seek feedback
from stakeholders on the extent to which the NDIS has contributed to outcomes under the Strategy.
4. Issues for consideration—Priority Areas for Action
The 2013–2015 National Arts and Disability Strategy Evaluation (the Evaluation) will continue to give a
particular focus to the four priority areas for action outlined in the Strategy. The Strategy sets out the
goals for each of these priority areas, including examples of strategies that support these goals.
A copy of the Strategy is available in accessible formats on the MCM website.3
For the purpose of assessing the outcomes of activities and initiatives achieved under the four priority
areas of the Strategy during 2013–2015, the Evaluation is particularly seeking feedback about:

Learnings that can inform improved program design and implementation.

Information about specific matters that could benefit from an increased focus in the future.

Whether the NDIS has contributed to achieving the outcomes of the Strategy.
In order to ensure the Evaluation is comprehensive, it will also consider whether the priority areas for
action under the Strategy remain appropriate and relevant.
4.1 Focus Area 1—Access and Participation
Strategies to address the barriers which prevent people with disability from accessing and participating
in the arts and cultural activities, both as audiences and participants.
3
A copy of the Strategy is available on the MCM Website at http://mcm.arts.gov.au/node/10
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Focus Area 1 provides a range of strategies for use by government funded arts organisations and
institutions to improve physical access and the provision of information about accessible facilities; and
to promote the value of involving people with disability in arts and culture.
Strategies that address barriers preventing people with disability from accessing and participating in arts
and cultural activities may include: improving physical access to arts venues and facilities; providing
information about arts and cultural activities in accessible formats; providing access through adequate
signage, Auslan interpreting and assistive technologies; increasing awareness of effective disability
access practices; and reducing the financial barriers to participate in creative activities.
The 2009–2012 Evaluation identified the following areas still requiring progress under Focus Area 1:



Access to quality arts and cultural experiences remains limited in regional and remote areas.
Remaining barriers inhibiting people with disability from accessing arts and cultural activity
include ticket prices, low numbers of accessible productions and low awareness of available
options.
Smaller arts and cultural organisations need more assistance in meeting access obligations.
The 2009–2012 Evaluation suggested governments could consider encouraging arts and cultural
organisations to increase accessibility by inserting appropriate wording into funding agreements.
In evaluating progress under this focus area for 2013–2015, we are particularly interested in feedback
about improvements in relation to:



Access to quality arts and cultural experiences in regional and remote areas.
Assistance provided to smaller arts and cultural organisations to meet access obligations.
Accessibility of ticketed events and productions.
4.2 Focus Area 2—Arts and Cultural Practice
Strategies to address the barriers which prevent emerging and professional artists and arts/cultural
workers with disability from realising their ambitions.
Focus Area 2 provides a range of strategies for creating opportunities for professional or aspiring and
emerging artists and arts and cultural workers with disability to develop artistically, present their work,
and access training, mentoring and career pathways.
Strategies under this focus area may include: improving access to arts and cultural funding programs
and processes; increasing opportunities for the presentation of works by artists with disability;
increasing access to mentoring and professional development opportunities; strengthening pathways
into the creative sector; and improving employment opportunities for artists and arts/cultural workers.
The 2009–2012 Evaluation identified the following areas still requiring progress under Focus Area 2:



Employment opportunities for artists and arts/cultural workers with disability remain low. There
was no noticeable increase in employment opportunities over the first three years of the
Strategy.
Mainstream funding programs and application processes need to address the accessibility
requirements of people with disability to create equity for artists with disability.
There is an ongoing need to develop leadership capability for artists and art workers with
disability, particularly in the area of governance.
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2013–2015 Evaluation of the National Arts and Disability Strategy—issues paper
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In evaluating progress under this focus area for 2013–2015, we are particularly interested in feedback
about improvements in relation to:



Employment opportunities for artists and arts/cultural workers with disability.
How mainstream funding programs and application processes address the accessibility
requirements of people with disability.
The provision of development opportunities for people with disability that focus on building
leadership capacity, particularly in the area of governance.
4.3 Focus Area 3—Audience Development
Strategies for developing and growing audiences for work created by artists with disability and disability
arts organisations.
Focus Area 3 provides a range of strategies for creating opportunities for artists with disability to
present and market their work to wider audiences, as well as increasing opportunities for audiences to
experience the work of artists with disability.
Strategies for growing audiences may include: raising the profile of artists and disability arts in the
community through promotional and marketing strategies; supporting events that showcase works by
artists with disability; encouraging sponsorships and partnerships that support artists with disability or
disability arts organisations; and conducting research initiatives relating to attitudes, motivations and
behaviours of audiences.
The 2009–2012 Evaluation identified that in order to raise the profile of artists with disability and
increase audience development in line with the goals of Focus Area 3, there needs to be a stronger
focus on:



awareness raising
marketing strategies
building private sector partnerships.
The 2009–2012 Evaluation noted that audience participation increases when physical barriers to
facilities are addressed and when the artistic product is of a high standard.
In evaluating progress under this focus area for the 2013–2015, we are particularly interested in
feedback about:



Activities and initiatives that have raised the profile of artists with disability and disability arts
organisations.
Improved opportunities for private sector partnerships for artists with disability.
Activities and initiatives that have improved the attendance rates of audiences at arts disability
events.
4.4 Focus Area 4—Strategic Development
Strategies at a broader policy level to improve coordination and collaboration across all levels of
government, empower people with disability to have a stronger voice in policy development and
planning, and support informed decision making.
Focus Area 4 sets out strategies for governments to improve policy development and planning for arts
and disability issues and increase representation of people with disability in policy formulation.
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Strategies under this focus area may include facilitating greater linkages and collaboration between the
Australian Government and state, territory and local governments and peak bodies representing people
with disability in order to promote consistent policy and planning approaches and to share information
and resources. Other strategies include standardising approaches to data collection where possible, and
developing performance measures on access and participation by people with disability in the arts.
The 2009–2012 Evaluation identified that while jurisdictions reported that the needs and aspirations of
people with disability are considered in arts and cultural policy and programs, quality statistical analysis
is required to measure the impact of arts and cultural policies affecting people with disability.
The 2009–2012 Evaluation also found that organisations with Disability Action Plans in place were more
aware of, and provide greater accessibility for, people with disability.
In evaluating progress under this focus area for the 2013–2015, we are particularly interested in
feedback about:




Ways in which the needs and aspirations of people with disability are considered in developing
arts and cultural policy and programs.
Ways in which people with disability are supported to actively participate in policy decisions.
Measuring the impact of arts and cultural policies on people with disability.
The implementation and use of Disability Action Plans.
5. Stakeholder consultation
The 2013-15 evaluation report will provide an evidence-based assessment of the progress of activities
and initiatives under the Strategy and may make recommendations to cultural ministers on how to
further realise the strategy. This quality of assessment will be dependent upon the valuable comments
and feedback received from stakeholders across the arts disability sector. The feedback will provide:
insight into the national arts and disability environment; information regarding the nature and status of
work being undertaken in individual jurisdictions that aligns with the strategy; and an understanding of
what areas of the strategy are being realised verses those that require more attention. We encourage
respondents to provide relevant evidence in the form of collected data, practical examples or case
studies.
The Evaluation consultation will be primarily conducted via an online stakeholder consultation survey
tool. We would like to hear from people with disability of all ages and people in remote and regional
communities, as well as individuals and organisations who work or live with people with disability. We
are interested in hearing from as many people in the community as possible with an interest in arts and
disability.
The survey will ask questions to identify relevant activities and initiatives under each of the four focus
areas and assess their outcomes during the 2013–2015 reporting period. The survey questions will also
seek information on progress made under the Strategy in relation to the recommendations from the
2009–2012 evaluation.
The link to the survey is available on the arts.gov.au website. Response via the online survey is the
preferred option.
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2013–2015 Evaluation of the National Arts and Disability Strategy—issues paper
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Hard copy responses can be forwarded to:
National Arts and Disability Strategy
Evaluation
Access and Participation Branch
Ministry for the Arts
Department of Communication and the
Arts 38 Sydney Avenue
FORREST ACT 2603
Electronic documents can be forwarded to the Ministry for the Arts at [email protected].
The closing date for comments is 17 June 2016.
The Ministry for the Arts will process responses to the survey and refer them directly to the relevant
state or territory government for analysis and inclusion in their jurisdictional reports.
Survey responses may be submitted anonymously. A request made under the relevant Freedom of
Information scheme, including the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act 1982, for survey
responses will be determined in accordance with that Act.
6. Reporting
The Ministry for Arts will draft an evaluation report in consultation with the state and territory
governments. The final 2013–2015 evaluation report will be presented to the annual Meeting of
Cultural Ministers (MCM), which comprises the Australian, state and territory government arts and
culture ministers.
A copy of the evaluation report will also be made available on the MCM website in accessible formats.
7. 2009–2012 National Arts and Disability Strategy Evaluation
The first triennial evaluation explored the outcomes under the Strategy from October 2009 to
December 2012. The evaluation was finalised in October 2013 and includes input from the Australian,
state and territory governments, following targeted consultation with arts and disability stakeholders.
A copy of the 2009-2013 Evaluation report is available at the Meeting of Cultural Ministers website.4
The 2013–2015 evaluation will reflect on the key findings and recommendations of the inaugural
evaluation.
7.1 Recommendations
The 2009–2012 evaluation made the following recommendations:
1.
2.
4
cultural Ministers re-state their ongoing commitment to the Strategy,
each jurisdiction create a Disability Action Plan with consideration being given to
incorporating the findings of this evaluation listed below as priority areas for action, and
The National Arts and Disability Strategy 2009–2012 Evaluation report is available at
http://mcm.arts.gov.au/node/10
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2013–2015 Evaluation of the National Arts and Disability Strategy—issues paper
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governance arrangements for reporting be updated to reflect the status of work achieved in
the first three years of the Strategy and newly adopted frameworks, so that:

the Strategy’s Implementation Working Group is dissolved and the National Arts and
Disability Strategy becomes a standing item on the Meeting of Cultural Ministers agenda.

each jurisdiction reports annually and directly to the Meeting of Cultural Ministers.

representatives from the Australian Government and each of the state and territory
governments reconvene every three years to evaluate the Strategy and its achievements.
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