Access all areas for art lovers

Like many Sydneysiders, Coral loved the melted Mister Whippy van at Sculpture By The Sea in Bondi last November. While most visitors admired the gooey-looking sculpture from afar, Coral got to touch the artwork, and heard an audio recording describing its materials and scale.
Coral may be blind, but that hasn’t stopped her from appreciating the city’s best arts festivals.
‘I loved the fact that I could touch the artwork and become involved in it,’ she says. ‘I also appreciate that when I experience contemporary art, and there is audio involved and I get to touch it, I get so much more out of it’ especially if it’s an enormous piece that I have to walk around.’
The Biennale of Sydney is the latest festival to cater to disabled Sydneysiders like Coral.
Sheena Walters from the Deaf Society of NSW says there are around 6000 people with impaired hearing across the state. A small number of them will visit the biennale as part of the Lord Mayor’s Community Access Day on Saturday August 23.
‘I think its safe to say that deaf people are more visually perceptive than the rest of the community,’ says Walters, ‘and I think their appreciation will be enhanced [at the biennale].’
Having previously provided Auslan interpreters for the Sydney Festival, the Deaf Society has arranged for interpreters to be on hand over the course of the day.
Coral, who is already booked in for the Biennale Access Day, also attended the recent Sydney Film Festival, which offered audio-described movies as part the festival’s Accessible Cinema program.
Accessible Arts CEO Sancha Donald says: ‘It has never been more competitive to attract audiences to arts events and the Biennale of Sydney has demonstrated leadership in encompassing artistic excellence whilst retaining a commitment to accessibility.’
At the biennale, presenters will illustrate the sound of a video installation to deaf visitors, or offer visual interpretation of artworks through signing. There will be audio descriptions and guided tours accompanied by Auslan interpreters, plus simple descriptions for people with intellectual disabilities at each of the venues.
Community Access Day will be presented at Pier 2/3 (Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay); Museum of Contemporary Art (West Circular Quay) and The Art Gallery of New South Wales (The Domain).