{{Short description|Charitable trust in New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox organization | name = Arts Access Aotearoa | native_name = Whakahauhau Katoa o Hanga | native_name_lang = Te Reo Maori | formation = 1995 | founding_location = Wellington | type = Charitable trust | registration_id = CC33533 | purpose = Arts Access Aotearoa advocates for all people in New Zealand to have access to the arts by supporting people who experience barriers to participation or whose access is limited. | headquarters = Toi Poneke, Wellington Arts Centre | location = Level 3, 61–63 Abel Smith Street | coordinates = {{coord|-41.296099|174.773284|display=inline, 61–63 Abel Smith Street}} | region_served = Wellington | fields = Arts | language = English | leader_title = Executive Director | leader_name = Richard Benge | affiliations = Creative New Zealand, Department of Corrections, Foundation North, Wellington City Council | website = {{URL|https://artsaccess.org.nz/}} }} '''Arts Access Aotearoa''' was established as a charitable trust in 1995 with funding from Creative New Zealand. It was created primarily to meet a key objective of the Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Act 1994:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1994/0019/latest/whole.html |title=Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa Act 1994 No 19 (as at 30 April 2014), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation |website=www.legislation.govt.nz |language=en-NZ |access-date=2018-11-11}}</ref> that is, to support "the availability of projects of merit to communities or sections of the population that would otherwise not have access to them". Arts Access Aotearoa’s main areas of focus are supporting disabled people to create and participate in art of all kinds; encouraging performing arts companies, venues, producers and artists to increase their accessibility; and facilitating arts-based rehabilitative projects and programmes in prisons. It receives core funding from Creative New Zealand and has a major contract with the Department of Corrections. It also has support and sponsorship from local government, philanthropic trusts and businesses around New Zealand.
==Key activities== === Arts Access Awards === Every year, it presents the Arts Access Awards in Parliament. Formerly called the Big ‘A’ Awards, and as of 2018 named the Te Putanga Toi Arts Access Awards, they were introduced in 2007 to recognise the contribution of individuals and organisations in providing access to the arts. There are currently seven awards, including a Community Partnership award,<ref>{{cite news |title=Humans of Hendo - looking through a new lens wins art award |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12099075 |accessdate=11 November 2018 |work=NZ Herald |date=2 August 2018}}</ref> a Museum award,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Carly |title=Te Manawa wins award for being inclusive |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/92886828/Te-Manawa-wins-award-for-being-inclusive |accessdate=11 November 2018 |work=Stuff.co.nz |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=24 May 2017}}</ref> two Arts in Corrections awards<ref name="Prison">{{cite news |title=Prison programme leading the way |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11694153 |accessdate=11 November 2018 |work=NZ Herald |date=15 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="Northland">{{cite news |last1=Ling |first1=Jenny |title=Northland prison arts teacher scoops Access awards |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/northland/105681105/northland-prison-arts-teacher-scoops-access-awards |accessdate=11 November 2018 |work=Stuff.co.nz |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=2 August 2018}}</ref> the Arts Access Artistic Achievement Award for artists with a disability or lived experience of mental ill-health,<ref>{{cite web |title=Arts Access Aotearoa Awards 2015: Dance doing its bit to increase access to arts for all |url=http://danz.org.nz/2015+Arts+Access+Aotearoa+Awards |website=Dance Aotearoa New Zealand |accessdate=11 November 2018 |date=7 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Art awards recognise Rodney Bell, Duncan Armstrong |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11886336 |accessdate=11 November 2018 |work=NZ Herald |date=7 July 2017}}</ref> and an Arts Access Accolade, presented to someone who has made a significant contribution to accessibility.<ref>{{cite web |title=Isaac Theatre Royal's CEO recognised at Arts Access Awards |url=https://mch.govt.nz/news-events/news/isaac-theatre-royal%e2%80%99s-ceo-recognised-arts-access-awards |website=Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage |date=23 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Chumko |first1=Andre |title=Inclusive hotel earns Olivier Lacoua an Arts Access Accolade |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/94277766/inclusive-hotel-earns-olivier-lacoua-an-arts-access-accolade |accessdate=11 November 2018 |work=Stuff.co.nz |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=5 July 2017}}</ref>
===Arts For All Network === The Arts For All initiative began in late 2010 with the release of ''Arts For All: Ngā toi mō te katoa'', a practical guide about ways that arts organisations, museums and galleries can improve and encourage access. The Arts for All Network was established as an ongoing programme in 2011. Networks have been established in Wellington,<ref>{{cite news |title=Arts for all on the move |url=https://www.thebigidea.nz/grow/tips-tools/2011/sep/91884-arts-for-all-on-the-move |accessdate=11 November 2018 |work=The Big Idea |date=16 September 2011}}</ref> Auckland,<ref>{{cite web |title=Auckland mayor applauds arts advocates |url=http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/news/auckland-mayor-applauds-arts-advocates |website=Creative New Zealand |accessdate=11 November 2018 |date=24 June 2013}}</ref> Canterbury, Otago and Taranaki and bring together representatives from the disability sector, arts and cultural organisations, and venues to share resources and ideas about building new audiences by improving access for disabled people.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wellington Museum Acknowledges Arts Access Aotearoa |url=https://tecuriocabinet.com/2017/11/30/wellington-museum-acknowledges-arts-access-aotearoa/ |website=Museums Wellington Te Curio Cabinet |accessdate=11 November 2018 |date=30 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111133828/https://tecuriocabinet.com/2017/11/30/wellington-museum-acknowledges-arts-access-aotearoa/ |archive-date=11 November 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since 2011, the programme has seen significant improvements in access: for example, audio described and sign interpreted performances are now a regular feature of many performing arts companies.<ref name="Ballet">{{cite web |title=RNZB recognised for making the arts accessible to all |url=http://rnzb.org.nz/news/rnzb-recognised-for-making-the-arts-accessible-to-all/ |website=Royal New Zealand Ballet |accessdate=11 November 2018 |date=2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Áine Kelly-Costello on Making Art and Music More Accessible |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/concert/programmes/upbeat/audio/2018658180/aine-kelly-costello-on-making-art-and-music-more-accessible |website=Radio New Zealand |accessdate=11 November 2018 |date=15 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Arts for all {{!}} Ngā toi mō te katoa|publisher=Arts Access Aotearoa|url=https://artsaccess.org.nz/arts-for-all/uploads/sites/artsaccess/files/images/2014%20creative%20spaces/Arts_For_All_Final_Website_Dec_2014.pdf}}</ref>
=== Creative spaces === A recognised part of the social services in New Zealand, creative spaces provide a space, a sense of community, resources and support for people to produce art or participate in artistic activities such as theatre, dance, visual arts, creative writing and music. Many are exclusively used by people with disabilities or lived experience of mental ill health, while others are open to a broader cross-section of the community such as youth, unemployed people and people in the criminal justice system. It is estimated that there are around 80 or more creative spaces throughout New Zealand. These include Vincents Art Workshop in Wellington, the first such space established in 1985, as well as Artsenta, which opened in Dunedin in 1986.{{Citation needed|date=April 2026}}
=== Arts in Corrections === Arts Access Aotearoa has a long-standing relationship with the Department of Corrections to facilitate and advise on arts projects and programmes in prisons throughout New Zealand.<ref name="Prison"/><ref name="Northland"/> This has resulted in some exciting initiatives such as an exhibition of prison art in Parliament and a week-long theatre workshop and performance in Arohata Prison led by German theatre director Uta Plate. Other successful projects include two quilting groups run by volunteer quilters,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Christian |first1=Dionne |title=Not quilty: A stitch in time saves nine |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11749144 |accessdate=11 November 2018 |work=NZ Herald |date=16 November 2016}}</ref> and ballet workshops led by the Royal New Zealand Ballet.<ref name="Ballet"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Access to ballet for women prisoners |url=https://www.thebigidea.nz/stories/media-releases/217142-access-to-ballet-for-women-prisoners |accessdate=11 November 2018 |work=The Big Idea |date=20 December 2017}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://artsaccess.org.nz/Arts%20For%20All%20Network Arts For All Network]
Category:Charitable trusts Category:Charities based in New Zealand Category:Organisations based in Wellington Category:1995 establishments in New Zealand Category:Arts organisations based in New Zealand Category:Culture in Wellington