With one in six New Zealanders experiencing disability, a new award has been established to recognise an arts organisation or company that has gone to 'extraordinary lengths' to make itself more accessible to the disabled community.

With one in six New Zealanders experiencing disability, a new award has been established to recognise an arts organisation or company that has gone to 'extraordinary lengths' to make itself more accessible to the disabled community.

The new Creative New Zealand-sponsored Arts For All Award is one of the five awards being offered for the Arts Access Aotearoa’s Big ‘A’ Awards 2011.

The award is open to arts organisations and companies able to demonstrate they have improved their access to disabled audiences during the 12 months preceding the nomination closing date of 25 March 2011.

In 2009, Creative New Zealand in partnership with Arts Access Aotearoa published Arts For All | Nga toi mo te katoa. Aimed at artists, arts organisations and venues, it provides advice on practical and long-term ways to increase access to the arts, market events to the disabled community and build new audiences. This publication was the impetus for the award.

Creative New Zealand Chief Executive, Stephen Wainwright says access to the arts for all New Zealanders is a key driver behind the support of the award. “The power of the arts is that they can be transformative, connecting people in a shared experience beyond physical limitations. The award will recognise arts organisations or companies who are responding to the needs of the disabled communities to break down perceived or physical barriers to make access easier.”

Touch Compass Dance Trust’s recent inclusion in the Creative New Zealand Arts Leadership Investment Programme is recognition of their ability to deliver the programme’s key roles of creating, presenting and distributing high-quality contemporary New Zealand dance, and providing professional development services and information to the wider dance sector.

“The company integrates dancers with and without disabilities in professional performances and events and is a great example of an organisation that stretches beyond the perception of a professional dance company,” Stephen Wainwright said.