Alter State is a major arts and disability festival, engaging audiences from Australia and New Zealand.
The festival will be held in late 2022, but until then, a launch taking place this November will introduce audiences and invite them to gather, be curious and connect with Deaf and Disabled artists, across a range of free, online events.
The opening event and Welcome To Country will take audiences on a virtual journey through Australia and New Zealand, as Foundation Artists’ Carly Findlay OAM, Joshua Pether and Rodney Bell reflect on their intent, vision and hopes for Alter State.
The online offering will feature new, digital commission curated by First Nations curators. These works will explore ritual, time and space, created by independent contemporary artists Daisy Sander, Patrick William Carter and Rodney Bell.
Then, Arts Access Victoria will host panel discussions and workshops in The Museum Of Us. These will unearth new visions of what it is to live and be creative in Victoria. The organisation will bring together Deaf and Disabled artists to discuss the Australian Code Of Conduct for Access in the Arts. This code is being developed to increase agency of Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent people, and to tackle ableism.
“Alter State is true acknowledgement of the immense value that Deaf and Disabled artists bring, or have the potential to bring to our cultural landscape,” Arts Access Victoria CEO Caroline Bowditch says.
“We are all committed to cultural equity and transformational systemic change. We want to shift perceptions and expectations that are regularly placed on the work of Deaf and Disabled artists, and accelerate the rate of culture change. This is a pivotal moment for Arts Access Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Victoria and internationally.”
Alter State’s free online programme is on from 9-13 November. Alter State takes place in late 2022.
