This Literature Review explores significant and underlying issues of arts and disability. The review focuses on research conducted in Australia and uses international literature to enhance what already exists in Australia. It provides an insight into how creativity and the access needs of people with disabilities is a matter of concern to many organisations and individuals, if not everyone.
This research was completed for Accessible Arts NSW. Accessible Arts is an active agent in the promotion and advocacy for individuals with disabilities to access the arts and culture. In light of this, I will focus on literature that investigates social and political responses of arts and disability issues. I will outline the main claims and evaluate the effectiveness of policies and action plans of relevant organisations, scholarly books, reports and articles.
To discuss issues of arts and disability, it is essential to gain insight of underlying meanings and ideas. In the Background, I will define the meaning of disability with reference to the widely cited text, the 'International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health.' In light of the social model of disability, much literature explores how society’s conception of disability is reflected and shaped by the use of language. In order to gain an understanding of how the arts and disability relate to each other, it is useful to consider the foundations of Arts and Disability as an emerging phenomenon and movement.
International and Australian legislation provides a formal framework for the protection of the cultural rights of all individuals. This is addressed in Article 30 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Equality and access to the arts and culture is echoed on a domestic scale, namely through the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act of 1992.
The Literature Review also outlines the key stakeholders of arts and disability. In Australia, the 'Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers' of 2003 conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals that one in five people in Australia have a disability. The Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act considers a broader range of stakeholders, such as associates of people with a disability. This highlights the influential nature of networks in society and that disability is a broad concept that affects many individuals.
Scholarly literature, how-to guides and government publications outline ways individuals access the arts. The culmination of literature is helpful for identifying barriers which hinder people with disabilities from accessing the arts. However, it is important to focus on solutions and development of existing programmes and structures.
I will also outline the main drives and motivations for the development of arts and disability. This will be considered alongside my research of common aspects of policies and strategies. This adds practical value to the review as it shows that arts and disability can be formally approached in a number of ways.