AAV Flashbacks

We are sharing AAV memories this year. So join us in discovering our history. And how AAV fits into the wider arts and disability sector.

We will be updating this page throughout the year with new sections of history.

Please be aware: some language is outdated. We are not censoring these documents to show our history. Changes in language and concepts of Disability have changed throughout time. What we once thought of Disability is different today and will be different in the future.

People on a group call with their arms in the air. The photo has a blue and yellow tint from an overlaying artwork.

Planet WOW, 2020.

Where We Are Now (2020 – present)

COVID-19 lockdowns were difficult for everyone, especially Deaf and Disabled people. We came together to ensure no one was left behind. Artists received funding, technology support and digital literacy training as we moved online.

In 2020, our studios pivoted to online delivery. We advocated for our artists to have better digital access. It was the first time many families got to see what it was like for the artists and how the studios are run. We used phone, email and mail to stay connected with our other artists.

Two Degrees was a series of digital works commenting on climate change in 2020.

Capturing the City with SIGNAL continued in the form of a film club.

Nimbus created a virtual exhibition called Ether.

The Echo Collective ensemble made a series of videos and audio episodes called Channel Echo.

A performer stands on the shoulders of another performer, arching up to the sky on a beach at sunset.

'Short-sighted’ by Abbie Madden, 2020

The Museum of Us asked 45 Deaf and Disabled Victorian artists to respond to the prompt, “What could an accessible future be for Victoria? And what sort of future do we want to emerge?” The artists used many forms of digital technology – Text, animation, audio and video recordings, and more. The Museum of us was supported by the Victorian Government.

Music Makers was a mentorship program for Deaf and Disabled music workers in Victoria. Music Makers fostered accessible and meaningful interactions with industry. The Amplify Award was established to celebrate Deaf and Disabled music makers. In partnership with Music Victoria. The program was featured on the ABC Arts program Art Works. Participating artists have gone on to receive funding for their work and further career opportunities.

Joe working on his Queen Victoria Market linocut.

Tim Sedgwick working on his Create project

Accelerate was a new grants program for Deaf and Disabled Artists, Creatives and Arts Workers in Victoria. It was supported by Creative Victoria in 2021. It was developed to drive change for future funding programs. Thrive Creative Grants was a funding program for the Emerald Hill (South Melbourne) area. It was a partnership between the City of Port Phillip and AAV. Victorian Deaf and Disabled artists applied for a grant of $10,000, plus access costs.

The inaugural Alter State Festival launched online in 2021. It took place in 2022 and was a huge hit. This was the beginning of a 10-year partnership with Arts Centre Melbourne. Flaunt was The Other Film Festival’s first online festival with ACMI in 2022.

highlights from 2022 include:

By My Bed with the Emerging Writers’ Festival.

Live music, performance, poetry, panel discussions and film as part of the St Kilda Film Festival.

Snug Rock, our all ages accessible music festival presented with ALWAYS LIVE.

A person performing seated behind drums and microphone on stage.

Izzy from Half N Half on drums at Snug Rock, 2022. Photo by Laura Du Ve.

Anni Neptune performing on the Nebula stage as part of AAV at the St Kilda Film Festival. Photograph by Kate Disher – Quill.

During this time, we committed to a hybrid model for as many events as possible into the future.

Our 2023 feature exhibition was a retrospective of the late Uncle Greg’s life work during NAIDOC Week. It was a great success.

In 2024, we said goodbye to our CEO of six years, Caroline Bowditch. We welcomed our new CEO, Joshua Pether.

We are celebrating our 50th year in 2024. The Collective exhibition brought together artists and workers from AAV’s past, present and future. The second Alter State Festival was jam-packed with Deaf and Disabled excellence. We are excited for the next 50 years of AAV.

Bunjil eagle has arms outstretched and is staring straight on.

The AAV community at The Collective Opening event, July 2024. Photo by Raphael Recht.

Uncle Greg, Bunjil, Acrylic on Canvas.

Hugh McNab as The Crow, as part of Thrive Creative Grants, City of Port Philip and St Kilda Film Festival, South Melbourne, 2022. Photograph by Kate Disher – Quill.
Josephine Lazidis, Dancing Chinese Dragons, Acrylic on Canvas, 2022
Photo by Kate Disher Quill, 2022.
Malcolm James, Up and down to the castle of steps, 2021.
Leeann Preddy, Werribee Gorge, watercolour on paper, 2022.
Caroline Bowditch and Claire Spencer in conversation at Arts Centre Melbourne, November 2021.
Photograph by Mali Hermans
The Collective banners, North Melbourne, 2024. Photo by Teague Leigh.
Tony Dowling, Mountain and Fields, Acrylic on canvas, 2019
Philately as a Strategy for Embracing Life (and Autistic Identity) Larissa MacFarlane Linocut, screenprint, found postage stamp 2020 - 2023
‘Make time—’ by Ash Hem
Luminescence in Eden, by Doron Banks, 2020.
The Gathering at The Channel, April 2023.
Aleshanee Faery 2020 Monoprint, oli on paper 29.7 x 42cm
Saint Ergo at the Music Victoria Awards. Photo supplied by Music Victoria and taken by SDP Media.
SRS Studios 2023.
Cockadoododo Fiona Taylor Video 2019
Michael Chan, Ebony Wightman, Rafeif Ismail, Irene Holub, Anna Molnar, Beau Windon, Margot Morales, Jeremy Hawkes, Harmonie Downes from the Evolving residency in front of the AAV offices. Photograph: Kate Disher - Quill.
AAV Past leadership panel with Caroline Bowditch, Judy Morton, Joshua Pether and Veronica Pardo. The Collective, 2024. Photo by Teague Leigh.
The Other Film Festival 2024, ACMI. Photo by Raphael Recht.