Arts Access Victoria started on 1 April 1974. It was started by Judy Morton. Judy had learnt about similar organisations overseas, like Hospitals Audiences Incorporated (HAI) in New York. They gave performances in hospitals, prisons and disability institutions.
Judy Morton received funding from the Australia Council for the Arts (now Creative Australia), the Myer Foundation and R.E. Ross Trust to start AAV. It was based in Collingwood.
Photo: Arts Access Society arts workshops, 1970s, photographer unknown.
For the next three years, AAV ran art and theatre workshops in institutions. AAV also took people and children in institutions out to arts and leisure activities. The funding ran out and the programs stopped for two years. But everyone wanted them to continue. People came together and funding was found for AAV to start again. It was called the Arts Access Society Inc.
Some of the programs in the 1970s included:
We ran out of funding in 1977. And all programs stopped. But great ideas refuse to die! And we were back by early 1979.
Zoo project, 1975. Photograph: Judy Hall.
Judy Morton, interviewed by The Indianapolis News, 12 June 1974.
AAV ad in Hops, Steps & Jumps, Children’s Welfare Association of Victoria Newsletter in March 1977
