RAWA, DADAA, and The Junction Co. recently hosted an Arts and Accessibility panel discussion focused on supporting inclusivity in the arts. A comprehensive Arts Accessibility 101 guide is now available on The Junction Co.’s website.  

The discussion featured Paulette Jadzinsky, who shared her artistic journey as part of the Disability and Inclusion Program, demonstrating how venues can create welcoming spaces for all community members. The conversation was led by Anwen Handmer, Regional Arts Australia Board Director and artist living with a physical disability.

The Junction Co. recently partnered with DADAA to develop Arts Access 101, a user-friendly guide that offers practical steps for improving program accessibility for individuals with disabilities. In this discussion, we’ll explore the resource, share ideas for improving accessibility in spaces and programs, highlight key accessibility initiatives, and hear Paulette’s inspiring journey as a creative practitioner living with a disability.

You may download the Arts Accessibility 101 Guide here [pdf]

Panelists

  • Anwen Handmer, Facilitator
  • Paulette Jadzinski, Local Port Hedland artist living with a disability
  • Jane Bolton, Local Port Hedland carer
  • DADAA – Julie Barratt, Director of Arts Strategy and Jacqueline Homer, Access Program Producer
  • The Junction Co. – Valeria Scoponi, Regional Manager
  • Regional Arts WA – Gemma Robins, Network Coordinator (Host)

About Anwen Handmer
A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), Company Directors Course, Anwen’s skills are in the arts, and in NDIS service delivery. Anwen is an advocate for diversity and inclusion. She has designed and delivered diversity and inclusion education programs and delivered public presentations on disability and empowerment as a keynote speaker and panel member. As a visual artist, Anwen received international recognition for her work. When she could no longer paint due to disability, she began working in the disability sector. Anwen now writes and performs original songs for piano and vocals to satisfy the need to create. Anwen is currently a Director at Regional Arts Australia.

About DADAA
For nearly 30 years, DADAA has been at the forefront of disability arts in Western Australia. From arts mentoring and workshops through to collaborating with disadvantaged communities on large scale projects, providing access to arts and culture for people with disability is at the heart of everything we do. DADAA aspire to be a voice of ambition, daring, and innovation. To challenge preconceptions and perceptions, think differently and freely, and create great art – art that changes people’s lives.
www.dadaa.org.au

About The Junction Co.
The Junction Co. is an innovative, Pilbara-based arts organisation with a clear vision to engage, grow and empower regional creative industries. We deliver a raft of programs to the Pilbara community, online, at partner locations across the region, and through the Port Hedland Courthouse Gallery+Studio, a regional gallery we manage on behalf of the Town of Port Hedland. Junction Co. team is made up of creative entrepreneurs, artists, strategists, graphic designers, place activators, facilitators, teachers and lovers of craft who seek to actively improve community membership and engagement, encourage a balance of work and play, improve liveability of local communities and assist in strengthening the Pilbara identity.
thejunctionco.com.au

About Paulette Jadzinski
Paulette Jadzinski is a vibrant emerging artist hailing from Port Hedland, Western Australia. Her artistic practice is deeply rooted in the diverse tapestry of her surroundings, drawing inspiration from the people in her daily life in Port Hedland, her love for her career, Jane Bolton, and finding creative resonance in the artistry of singer Selena Gomez.

Paulette actively participates in our COLOURS workshops hosted at the Makers Space in the Courthouse Gallery. Through her attendance, she engages in the process of creating, contributing a unique perspective and energy to the artistic community.

Her works are a testament to the fusion of personal connections, local influences, and the magnetic pull of global pop culture, creating a captivating narrative within the realm of contemporary art. As a multidisciplinary artist, Paulette continues to explore and evolve her creative expression, making her a noteworthy presence in the emerging art scene.