Reflecting on Year 2 of our DIAP

Hi all, I’m Artemis, Arts House Access Advisor! I’ve joined the team in a newly formed role one day a week to find ways to ensure we stay on track with our goal to make Arts House a better venue for Deaf and Disabled people. My appointment is just one new step we’ve taken here at Arts House in the past year. 

Two years ago, we launched our second Disability Inclusion Action Plan. I was a part of the advisory group that helped to create it, as well as part of the implementation of Year 2 actions. Here’s some highlights: 

Last year we focused on creating resources to assist artists and staff to think about access communications and needs. We created go-to sheets to help artists identify what they might need to do their best work with us, for staff to learn how to set up more accessible meetings and communication strategies, including access services we might offer for shows.

You can download these documents if you would like to see some examples.
Access Overview (for Artists) PDF | Word
Meeting Access Checklist PDF | Word 
Common Access Requests PDF | Word   

In 2024 our program was brimming with works by incredible disabled artists and we partnered with Arts Centre Melbourne – Alter State and Melbourne Fringe Radical Access. We continued to commission works for development through our Warehouse Residency, 40% of the projects we presented in Season 2 were led by disabled artists. Currently 30% of works we have in development are led by Deaf and Disabled artists.  

We also continued to offer a range of access services at our events. Most of our programming offered Auslan Interpreted and/or Audio Described shows with Tactile Tours. Jonathan Craig hosted a blind and low vision community engagement event with the team behind Conduit Bodies.  

We purchased two HEPA air filters which now live permanently in the building and we made sure they were present during our Disabled and Sexy – Alter State Closing Party, an event that was also presented bilingually in English and Auslan.  

And so much more! If you want to get a full idea of what we got up to this past year, I’d recommend checking out our Progress Report (Download PDF | Word).  

What’s next? 

At our annual review meeting with our Access Advisors, we agreed on some priorities going into the new year including: 

• Reviewing processes for our access services to ensure we deliver the best quality possible 
• Expanding on our online and hybrid offerings 
• Finding new ways to advertise shows to people that emphasise different kinds of sensory experiences 
• Working to increase COVID safety measures 
• Moving towards a full time Access Advisor role and better recruitment processes to attract more disabled staff members. 
• Creating methods to track the training that current and future staff have done

Thanks for being with us as we work towards all this and more in the coming year(s). 

– Artemis Munoz, Arts House Access Advisor 

We want your feedback and ideas  

Arts House values community feedback on our progress in meeting the goals and actions outlined in this plan.  

Feedback can be shared in the following ways:  

1. Completing the online survey (anonymous) 
2. Providing feedback over the phone (03) 9322 3720 to Arts House reception  
3. Providing feedback in Auslan. Arts House can coordinate translation  
4. Emailing artshouse@melbourne.vic.gov.au with your feedback   

 Arts House will acknowledge receipt of all feedback. You are welcome to request a status update on your feedback and how it has been considered. 

Image: Sarah Walker

Image Description: People dance and laugh in a party atmosphere at the Disabled and Sexy party. The event’s best dressed winners smile as they lean in towards each other. Jax wears a dark shirt decorated with many colourful dildos. Margaret kneels draped in all gold with a bedazzled hat and corset.