Throughout the 1980s AAV continued to work with people in institutions. Important programs in prisons, hospitals, and residential care providers were at the core of AAV’s work.
The education system was starting to change. AAV received funding to run programs connecting students in specialist schools with students in mainstream school settings.
A kid painting t-shirts at Art Party. 1989.
Minister Race Matthews Cutting the Ribbon to open AAV's new ramp, 1986
In 1985 AAV moved into a new office in Sturt St, Southbank. The state government funded a new ramp for the building. A Mad Hatters Party was held to mark the occasion. Minister Race Matthews officially opened the new ramp. The Minister got in the spirit wearing a novelty hat as part of the day.
AAV’s new office housed the Arts Access Victoria Resource Unit. This important library of material relating to Disability Arts was available for anyone to use and browse.
EASE – the Entertainment Access Service, was an accessible ticketing service developed by AAV. It helped Victorian venues give access to Deaf and Disabled audiences.
By 1989 AAV had established its own studio program. Previously AAV had run programs for people within existing institutions. This was the beginning of the many studios AAV runs today!
Two people going to a concert through the EASE program.
Preference shot from The Taste of Crime. 1989.
In 1985 Victoria marked 150 years as a state. AAV was commissioned to hold a festival, called ‘Sharing’. It was held on 7 November at the Victorian Showgrounds. Workshops, performances, exhibitions and food brought people together. Minister Race Matthews opened the day and made the first mark on a collaborative artwork.
‘Taste of Crime’ was a performance piece written and performed in 1989 by the women of Fairlea Prison. The 90-minute show contained songs and stories written by the women. Over 1,000 people attended the performances.
Community arts project in the Mansfield region with Western Theatre.
The Broadmeadows Teenage Women’s Group presented the play, ‘Mummy Wears Pigtails’. The young mothers used the play to show the stigma that they experienced in society.
Ash Wednesday devastated Victorians. In 1985 AAV collaborated on a community arts project in the Mansfield region with Neil Cameron of West Theatre. It was a healing moment.
Two hundred children from 17 sites all over Melbourne took part in Arts Access’ Bicentennial ‘Art Party’. Two programs of developmental visual arts workshops culminated in the children’s work being exhibited as part of the National Bicentennial travelling Exhibition.
Highlights of the exhibition were the visits by the children who participated in the ‘Art Party’ Project. Their excitement at seeing their work displayed, with names and photographs, was wonderful to see. They were delighted at their work being among that of other schools and being part of the much bigger Bicentennial Exhibition.
A drawing from Art Party. 1989.
Two women in the AAV seniors Drama Program
Preference shot from The Taste of Crime. 1989.
Kids from Art Party wearing the t-shirts they panted standing in front of their flags.
a woman painting the set for The Taste of Crime.
Preference shot from The Taste of Crime. 1989.
Kids making flags at Art Party
