Building Stronger Communities

AMPAG member companies are committed to ensuring access to the arts for all Australians, regardless of geographical isolation or other disadvantage. Across the nation, from small country towns to the suburbs of major cities, performing arts companies and venues play their part as a hub for community growth and development. 

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  Queensland Ballet: A Classical Celebration Photo: David KellyIn May 2010, Opera Queensland’s Moving Opera! team worked with six students from the Brisbane Youth, Education and  Training Centre which is situated within the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre at Wacol. Under the tutelage of the Opera Queensland artists, the students  from the detention centre learnt three pieces of music, which included one opera chorus, as well as arranging some of their own compositions. The program culminated with a concert for the centre’s youth workers and staff, many of whom  were brought to tears during the performance. Negotiations are underway to return to  the centre in 2011.
• The Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) is opening up to a new audience by developing a virtual orchestra using digital sound and screens in which they can immerse themselves as if on stage with the orchestra.
• The NAB Dance the Dream workshops takes place around Australia thanks to a partnership between The Australian Ballet and National Australia Bank (NAB). Entries are open to dance schools throughout Australia and the best entry in each state and territory (plus two wild cards) is visited by a former principal artist with The Australian Ballet. NAB also provides the next best 10 applications with a ballet barre. 
• Bell Shakespeare Residencies take Arts Educators into some of Australia’s more remote communities, such as Tennant Creek, Thursday Island, Menindee in NSW and St Marys in Tasmania, where they spend up to two weeks at a time living in the community and working with young people through schools and community centres.
• In the Music for Life program, Musica Viva and the Campbelltown Arts Centre measured how music impacts the health and wellbeing of south-west Sydney’s seniors. After a successful trial and research period, the program has been rolled out nationally.
• West Australian Symphony Orchestra broadcasts live webcasts of selected concerts in association with iiNet. The webcasts have enabled regional and disadvantaged audiences to view the concert for free over the web.
• Through the Unwaged Performance Program, free tickets are provided by Belvoir theatre to unwaged community members to see a matinee performance of each production.
• In Saturday Jam, members of the public can create a piece of music with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Federation Square.
• Through Open Doors, the public can observe the training and wardrobe of the Queensland Ballet during school holidays.
• Through Hearts in a Row, the Bell Shakespeare Company and its corporate partners provide hundreds of tickets to disadvantaged groups.
• Sydney Theatre Company supports patrons with disability to attend theatre by offering audio-described performances, captioned performances and Auslan Interpreted Performances.

Accessing the Arts

See our page Arts and Disability for more information.