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Arts and the NDIS

Whether art is something you simply enjoy, or something that you need in your life, being involved in creating art or even just observing it can be extremely beneficial for happiness, creativity and feeling part of a broader community.

The benefits of engaging with the arts are notable. Whether actively performing or engaging as an audience member, participating in the arts is good for our general health and wellbeing. And research shows that more and more Australians with disability are engaging with the arts. So how can you find an accessible and inclusive art program? And how can you include art as part of your NDIS plan?

The NDIS can be vague about how art can be included into your NDIS plan, but we’ll attempt to explain the types of different supports included in your plan and where art can fit into them.

Don’t forget that you must speak to your providers about what is important to you. When outlining your goals for your plan, you should express how important art is to you and how it will have a positive impact on the outcomes of your plan if you believe that this is the case for you.

Access and barriers

According to the National Arts Participation Survey, Australians with disability are actively involved in the arts as artists, audience members and for recreation. The latest survey revealed that 61% of Australians with disability engage with the arts.

Despite this active engagement, there are still barriers to access.

These barriers generally fall under four categories: physical, economic, social and awareness. Physical barriers can include a lack of accessible transport or inaccessible venues, for example. While economic barriers are often ticket prices but can also include travel. Social barriers can include not feeling welcome or staff attitudes. And awareness can include a lack of information on accessible and inclusive art and art venues. These barriers can often stop a person with a disability engaging with the arts.

Art finder

But Arts Access Victoria, the state’s leading arts and disability organisation, provides a handy resource that helps remove some of those barriers.

ARTfinder is a searchable database that provides links to and information about opportunities, classes and organisations delivering inclusive and accessible art.

And soon that database will be national. In 2018 the Australian Government provided funding for ARTfinder National. According to Arts Access Victoria, the national database will also include accessible art events, festivals and services.

Incorporating Art into Your NDIS Plan

The extension of the ARTfinder to a national database will also provide valuable information for people looking to include art in their NDIS Plan.

Art provides a clear benefit for both mental and physical health and social connection. But how do you include art in your NDIS Plan? As outlined by Arts Hub, while the arts are not cited directly by the NDIS, they do align with several NDIS objectives. These include social and economic participation, choice and control, independence and inclusion.

Arts Access Victoria provides some tips to help people include arts in their NDIS plan:

    • Identify and write a statement about why/how art is important to you
    • Write down life goals/aspirations that involve creative activities, like arts programs
    • Identify arts programs, providers and other creative opportunities that interest you
    • Talk to your informal supports, such as family and friends who know about and support your arts participation

In addition, Arts Access Victoria provide a handy planning resource that can help people with disabilities to include art in their NDIS plan.

Accessible and inclusive art program links and resources

Discover what accessible and inclusive art programs are available to you, wherever you are in Australia.

Victoria

South Australia

New South Wales

Australian Capital Territory

Queensland

Western Australia

National Accessible and Inclusive Art Programs

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