Presented by Arts Centre Melbourne and Arts Access Victoria as part of Alter State 2026.
Image by Mark Gambino
Alter State 2026 is a space to think, share and connect. Over two afternoons, Deaf and Disabled artists share their ideas on what it means to build a future together. Recognise International Day of People with Disability at Alter State Symposium: Thursday.
This Symposium program grew from the community through an Expression of Interest process that asked what mattered most.
You are welcome to join us in person or online.
2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Arrival and Welcome
Our MC, Erica McCalman (Ballardong Noongar), gathers everyone together and looks to what’s ahead.
Opening Provocations with Thinker in Residence
Carly Findlay OAM, offers early thoughts on this year’s theme ‘Regeneration: Building Deaf and Disabled Futures’.
Artist Presentation: ‘Inspirational Keynote Speaker’
A club banger about suicidality. An online masterclass in monetising your suffering. An emotional breakdown in the middle of an IKEA display home. A beginner’s guide to building your own at-home ketamine clinic. Part keynote, part performance, Honor Eastly shares work-in-progress from a new live piece about mental health, recovery and the increasingly weird things we’re asked to do with our suffering.
Artist panel: ‘Where art meets cultural safety and creative control for Deaf and Disabled artists – by The D Spot’
What does cultural safety mean in the arts? Who has the power to tell cultural stories, make decisions and shape how work is presented? This panel explores when cultural safety becomes tokenism and when it gives genuine creative control. Artists will share their experiences and explore what meaningful cultural safety looks like in practice.
Curated by Luke King and Irene Holub (The D Spot). In conversation with Walter Kadiki, poet, and Joe Monteleone, artist.
This panel will be facilitated in Auslan with English interpretation.
You can find more information on accessibility for Alter State events at Arts Centre Melbourne in our Access Guide.
Download the Access Guide here.
Visual Stories are designed to help prepare you for your visit. They include venue information and what will happen during an event.
Download the Visual Story here.
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
All are invited to join the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony on the Arts Centre Melbourne Forecourt, as we begin Alter State 2026. Please arrive early on Wednesday and join us prior to the Symposium program.
5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Directly following the end of Symposium on Wednesday we will be launching The Collections Project, Artist in Residence exhibition in the Level 8 Foyers. Please join us for artist talks to celebrate and launch the exhibition.
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Continue on into the evening by joining us for the Alter State Opening Night Party. Celebrate the opening of Alter State 2026 with a night of subversive humour, lush sounds and fierce moves. Bookings required.
1:00 PM – 5:30 PM
The Alter State Symposium continues on Thursday. Learn more and book tickets on the Alter State Symposium: Thursday event page.
More Alter State Events on the Arts Centre Melbourne website.
Thank you to our Partners and Supporters.
Alter State has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body. With additional thanks to the Office for the Arts and Screen Australia.
Arts Centre Melbourne’s Alter State program is proudly supported by Mark Robertson OAM and Anne Robertson with the Grangers Foundation.
Wheelchair Access
Accessible Toilet
Auslan
Opened Captioning (all audience can view)
Audio Description
Quiet Space
Companion Card Affiliate
Registered Assistance & Companion Animals welcome
