Arts Access Aotearoa

Arts Access Aotearoa Arts Access Aotearoa works in partnership to increase access to the arts for people in Aotearoa who experience barriers to the arts.

Arts Access Aotearoa | Putanga Toi ki Aotearoa works in partnership to increase access to the arts for people in Aotearoa who experience barriers to participation as artists, performers, writers, audience members, and gallery and museum visitors. This includes work in the disability, mental health and Deaf communities, and through a network of community arts organisations called creative spaces. T

hrough the Arts For All Network, we support individuals and organisations committed to accessible and inclusive arts. We also facilitate Taha Hōtū, a Deaf and Disabled Artists’ Initiative supporting artists to create work, build their creative practice, and develop their careers. We advise Ara Poutama Aotearoa Department of Corrections on its arts programmes and activities, and advocate for the arts as a tool to support rehabilitation and reintegration for people in prisons. Our code of conduct policy

Arts Access Aotearoa uses social media as a way of connecting with people, and sharing news and ideas. We welcome your comments and feedback but reserve the right to delete comments, images or links that contain:

• offensive language
• personal attacks of any kind
• improper comments that are likely to offend or that target any ethnic, racial or religious group
• spam or include certain links to other sites
• any infringement on copyrights or trademarks
• excessive self-promotion. Repeated breaches of this policy will result in blocking so we can maintain a safe, positive environment. Thank you for supporting a space where everyone feels respected and able to participate.

This Friday's shout-out goes to the Arts For All Network members around the country who attend Katie's Arts For All Netw...
04/09/2026

This Friday's shout-out goes to the Arts For All Network members around the country who attend Katie's Arts For All Network hui (online and face to face) and work to increase access to the arts for Deaf and disabled artists and arts enthusiasts.

Katie's been travelling around the North Island this week, facilitating the hui and delivering accessibility responsiveness training workshops. Here's a group photo of the Arts For All Auckland Network hui.

🔗🔗For more info about the Network and how to join, visit our website:
https://artsaccess.org.nz/arts-for-all-network

Image description: More than 30 Auckland hui participants pose for a group photo.

Touch Compass Audio Described Aotearoa Ltd Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

Relaxed performances, NZSL interpreted shows, tour tours and audio described events are featured on our events calendar,...
03/09/2026

Relaxed performances, NZSL interpreted shows, tour tours and audio described events are featured on our events calendar, reflecting all the fantastic accessible arts and cultural activity across the country.

You can add your accessible arts event to this page:
https://artsaccess.org.nz/events

Just added: a koha show on 12 September at BATS in Wellington. Little Landscapes by multi award-winning performer Amy Grace Laura is described as a "sensory and intimate performance for young children and their grown-ups" .

Image description: a young person seated cross-legged in a green tent holding headphones and with baskets of food and logs of wood on the tent floor.

Connecting Auckland creative spaces is a key focus of Jazz Lolesio, our Arts Access Activator for Tāmaki Makaurau.In thi...
01/09/2026

Connecting Auckland creative spaces is a key focus of Jazz Lolesio, our Arts Access Activator for Tāmaki Makaurau.

In this Q+A, Jazz talks about the power of connection, collaboration and building a creative ecosystem where every creative space feels part of something bigger.

"I want to see a Creative Spaces Network that truly reflects the diversity of Tāmaki Makaurau and ensures all communities can participate in the arts. I'd like to see stronger representation from Māori, Pacific and other culturally diverse communities, as well as greater visibility for the incredible creative work happening in South Auckland."

🔗🔗Read the full interview with Jazz on the Creative Spaces Network website:
https://creativespacesnetwork.org.nz/Arts%20Articles/Connecting-Auckland-creative-spaces

Image: Stace Roberston, Jazz Lolesio and Rachel Foxell at an Auckland networking hui. Jazz is in the middle, speaking to hui participants. Her arms are outstretched and her face animated.

Verb Readers and Writers Festival runs in Wellington from 23 to 27 September.Join Deaf and disabled writers in the panel...
31/08/2026

Verb Readers and Writers Festival runs in Wellington from 23 to 27 September.

Join Deaf and disabled writers in the panel session "The Politics of Disabled Joy" on Sunday 27 September. The event will be NZSL interpreted.

Emcee Olivia Shivas (editor of The D*List) will lead a panel that includes writer/librarians Riah Tahana-Dawson (Ngāti Kurī, Ngāti Waikato-Tainui) and Bee Trudgeon, and writer/actor/filmmaker Jared Flitcroft (Ngāti Maniapoto).

The Politics of Disabled Joy is curated by the Crip the Lit rōpū, which advocates for placing the unique voices and perspectives of Deaf and disabled writers within a mainstream writing context.

🔗🔗For more info and to buy a ticket:
https://tahahotu.org.nz/Events%20Posting/The-Politics-of-Disabled-Joy-at-Verb-Festival


Verb Wellington Jared Flitcroft

Haere rā, ka kite anō i a kōrua hei te marama o Whiringa-ā-rangi, e Stace rāua ko Milly.Stace Robertson, Milly Hampton a...
30/08/2026

Haere rā, ka kite anō i a kōrua hei te marama o Whiringa-ā-rangi, e Stace rāua ko Milly.

Stace Robertson, Milly Hampton and Pelenakeke Brown are recipients of a new international pilot programme supporting disabled visual artists from Aotearoa to undertake a residency in the UK. The programme is presented by Te Tuhi in Auckland and The Art House in Wakefield, UK.

Pictured with Milly, right, and Stace, left, is Hiraani Himona, Executive Director of Te Tuhi.

Have an amazing, creative adventure, Stace and Milly.

🔗🔗Read the recent profile of Stace, our Lead Accessibility Advisor, on the Taha Hotu website:
https://tahahotu.org.nz/arts-articles/Connecting-with-Deaf-and-disabled-artists

Link for more info about the residency in comments.

Te Tuhi

Yay, today is National Poetry Day 2026! Our Friday shout-out goes to Aotearoa’s poets and to Landing Press, a small publ...
27/08/2026

Yay, today is National Poetry Day 2026! Our Friday shout-out goes to Aotearoa’s poets and to Landing Press, a small publishing company committed to supporting and elevating the diversity of voices that make up this culturally diverse country.

Landing Press is supporting Crip the Lit to run a poetry workshop for Deaf and disabled writers at Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Wellington Central Library on Sunday 13 September. The workshop is free with the focus on water - the theme of Landing Press's next anthology.

For more info, visit the Taha Hotu website:
https://tahahotu.org.nz/Events%20Posting/crip-the-lit-poetry-workshop-for-deaf-and-disabled-writers

Image: a collage of three images. From left:
1. a poster advertising the workshop
2. the cover of Trish Harris' poetry collection, My wide white bed
3. the cover of a poetry collection, called Potluck

27/08/2026

Warm congratulations to Susanne, Toi Ora Director, for being nominated as a Westfield Local Hero.

It's great to see a creative space recognised for the work it's doing to increase wellbeing through the arts.

Susanne, you have our vote. If Susanne is selected as the Westfield St Lukes Local Hero, Toi Ora will receive a $20,000 grant to continue its vital work using the arts and creativity to support people in mental distress.

Vote for Susanne:
https://www.westfield.co.nz/stlukes/news/29yiVr7iDzAThOJYQdjgDJ/local-heroes-2026?utm_source=in-centre&utm_medium=owned-centre&utm_id=a6151



Toi Ora Live Art Trust

26/08/2026

Look who joined us in the studio this week, Rachel Boyack MP! Rachel has kindly painted a canvas for our Keep the Art Space Open fundraiser this Friday at 5.15PM.

Would you like to own a Boyack original?

What happens when Deaf and disabled artists have the space to connect, collaborate and do things in the ways that work f...
26/08/2026

What happens when Deaf and disabled artists have the space to connect, collaborate and do things in the ways that work for them?

For Stace Robertson, our Lead Accessibility Advisor Kaiārahi a Toi Ōritetanga, that sense of connection is one of the most powerful parts of Taha Hotu.

“When I’m working with other disabled artists, there’s no correct way to do things. There’s just the way we do things.”

Stace is also a practising artist and pottery tutor, working predominantly in ceramics. In our latest story, he talks about how his creative practice and accessibility work inform each other, his hopes for Taha Hotu, and the changes he wants to see across the arts sector.

He also shares what’s next for his own practice as he heads to the UK for an eight-week residency at The Art House in Wakefield.

Read Connecting with Deaf and disabled artists: https://tahahotu.org.nz/Connecting-with-Deaf-and-disabled-artists

📷 Image description: Stace Robertson works at a pottery wheel in his studio, using his hands to shape a tall clay pot. He is surrounded by pottery tools and materials, with natural light coming through the windows behind him.

Why do arts organisations, museums and galleries need an accessibility policy? What should it include? And how could you...
25/08/2026

Why do arts organisations, museums and galleries need an accessibility policy? What should it include? And how could you begin?

🔗🔗Learn more about developing and writing an accessibility policy by reading our accessibility policy guide for arts organisations.
https://artsaccess.org.nz/accessibility-policy-a-roadmap-for-lasting-change

Image: An Arts For All Taranaki Network hui discuss accessibility policies.

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