Facebook Instagram Youtube Linkedin
Donate now
Access Arts Logo Black
A group of artists standing together for a group photo. Some are standing, others are kneeling or sitting in a wheelchair. Everyone has their arms up with happy and excited expressions on their faces.

Cause a Commotion this AusArt Day!

20/10/2026
No Comments

Cause a Commotion this AusArt day

Join Access Arts and Undercover Artist to raise funds to support and elevate disabled and d/Deaf stories

Access Arts’ ground-breaking Undercover Artist Festival has become Australia’s leading disability-led arts Festival. Platforming artists with disability and/or who are d/Deaf, the Festival has presented world premieres and kickstarted the careers of emerging talent, while the Undercover Artist Development Program supported the beginnings of brand-new disability-led performing arts projects.

2026 saw the evolution of the Development Program with the launch of Commotion – a new professional and creative development program. It’s designed to support d/Deaf and disabled artists with essential skills and experience, and a pathway to sustainable careers in the arts.

Read more about Commotion here
A group of artists standing together for a group photo. Some are standing, others are kneeling or sitting in a wheelchair. Everyone has their arms up with happy and excited expressions on their faces.
A group of people standing and sitting in a large performing space. They are looking at the camera with their arms up in the air and smiling at the camera. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt
Two performers on stage in wheelchairs. Two performers next to each of them. The person at the back has 1 arm up, while the person at the front is doing the splits with one leg on the ground and the other on the wheelchair, with her arms up in the air. Photo credit: Jade Ellis Photography

Get ready to Cause a Commotion

On Thursday 22 October, Access Arts’ Undercover Artist Festival is taking part in AusArt Day 2026, a nationwide day of fundraising for the arts.

And we need your support

Funds raised during AusArt Day will bring Commotion back in 2027 so it can continue as a catalyst for careers and future creative opportunities. Your donation will help fuel the future of disability arts in Australia.

Fuel the future of disability arts

Cause a Commotion with with donation on Thursday 22 October. Let’s go! 

Make a donation
Performers from The Phatt Zeroes in orange and black high visibility shirts and black pants perform a dance during their showing. There are fists punching into the air above and to the side of them, each performer punching in a different direction. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt
A group of performers in a large open space standing together and having a group hug. Mixture of females and 1 male and everyone looks happy and excited. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt.

Read More

A group of artists standing together for a group photo. Some are standing, others are kneeling or sitting in a wheelchair. Everyone has their arms up with happy and excited expressions on their faces.

What’s all the Commotion about?

23/09/2026
No Comments

What's all the Commotion about?

A pilot professional and creative development program

Earlier this year, Access Arts and Undercover Artist launched Commotion 2026 – a pilot professional and creative development program supporting artists with disability and/or who are d/Deaf to build skills, develop new work and explore where their creative practice could take them next.

Building skills online

Commotion began in May with four online professional development workshops for artists and arts workers.

The workshops explored practical skills including CV and biography writing, Cultural Safety in creative workplaces, grant writing and creative development planning.

The online program was made possible through Inclusive Arts Project, funded by the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA).

These courses have given me so much confidence to get my name out there... I've reactivated my ABN so I can get on with grant writing. It's amazing.

– Lyn, Commotion Online participant

Bringing Commotion together

Following the online workshops, Commotion artists came together in person on Thursday 27 August at the Thomas Dixon Centre for the Commotion Open Day. 

Drawing approximately 60 attendees across the full day we hope to build those numbers as Commotion becomes a staple in the arts and disability community.

With support from our friends at Queensland Ballet, artists had access to time and space to develop their works-in-progress, learn from each other and connect with people from across the arts and disability sector.

A group of artists standing together for a group photo. Some are standing, others are kneeling or sitting in a wheelchair. Everyone has their arms up with happy and excited expressions on their faces.
Commotion Open Day attendees (artists, ADNA delegates and industry guests) gather for a joyful group photo with smiles and outstretched arms. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt
Performers on stage in a theatre space. One person looking away with black and orange pieces of material around them, while 4 others stand in the background interacting with each other.
The Pratt Zeroes in rehearsal for their work-in-progress showing for 'The Shape of Life'. Photo credit: Annie Stevenson

Starting the day with mime

The day kicked off with a mime workshop led by d/Deaf artist James Kerwin, who recently undertook his own professional development studying mime in Italy.

James introduced the group to the techniques behind mime and gave artists the chance to put them into practice. From creating convincing movements to lifting an invisible boulder, the workshop showed there’s a lot more to mime than meets the eye!

Mime Workshop facilitator James Kerwin demonstrates placing a book onto a shelf above head height, one hand stretched upwards and a facial expression of wonder and joy. Photo credit: Annie Stevenson
Participants sit on the floor and observe facilitator James Kerwin as he shares instructions for the next exercise. Photo credit: Annie Stevenson

Connecting with the wider arts community

At the same time, members of the Arts and Disability Network Australia (ADNA) consortium were meeting at the Thomas Dixon Centre to discuss issues affecting the arts and disability sector and opportunities to work together.

Access Arts is a proud member of ADNA alongside arts and disability organisations from across Australia.

This created a valuable opportunity to bring the two groups together, with ADNA delegates and other industry guests invited to an exclusive showing of two Commotion works-in-progress.

Arts and Disability Network Australia (ADNA) National Director Sarah-Mace Dennis shows a colourful postcard with artwork while introducing the Network to Open Day attendees. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt
ADNA National Director Sarah-Mace Dennis stands in the middle and presents to the group with Access Arts' Arts Manager Tim Brown standing to the right, smiling and listening. An Auslan Interpreter stands on the left. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt

Sharing works-in-progress

Led by Rebecca Dostal and Lynette Stevenson, The Phatt Zeroes shared scenes from their developing work, The Shape of Life.

Inspired by artist Tara’s life and perspectives, the showing gave audiences an insight into the group’s creative process, their intentions for the work and where they hope to take the project next.

James Kerwin then presented a new mime work he is developing for young children. For the artists who had taken part in his workshop earlier that day, it was a chance to see many of the techniques they had just explored brought together in a performance.

The Phatt Zeroes stand facing the audience and receive applause at the end of their showing. The audience applauds by clapping or in Auslan. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt
The Phatt Zeroes during 'The Shape of Life' work-in-progress showing. Two performers in black hooded cloaks and one in a purple dress with real headscarf float and drape blue fabric over another performer who is sitting on the stage floor, barely visible under piles of fabric. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt
Performers from The Phatt Zeroes in orange and black high visibility shirts and black pants perform a dance during their showing. There are fists punching into the air above and to the side of them, each performer punching in a different direction. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt
Tara and Mitch from The Phatt Zeroes dance during The Shape of Life work-in-progress showing. The atmosphere is fierce and strong. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt
The Shape of Life showing. Tara stands in a red top and is being circled by Allycia and Mitch, who are wrapping her in thin black fabric by the waist, trapping her. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt
James Kerwin during his mime act. He stands with one hand on his hip, the other resting his hand on his chin with his thumb and pointer finger extended in to convey a thinking pose Photo credit: Glenn Hunt
James Kerwin mimes looking at an object with a bemused expression. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt
The audience watches James perform his mime work-in-progress showing. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt

Networking Lunch

The day finished with a relaxed networking lunch for artists, ADNA delegates and industry guests. It created space for conversations, new connections and artists to spend time with peers and people working across the sector.

Access Arts staff and ADNA National Director chat with an industry guest. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt
Access Arts' Arts Manager Tim Brown chats with industry guests during networking lunch. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt
ADNA National Director Sarah-Mace Dennis smiles and chats with two industry guests. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt
Guests gather to select their food. Photo credit: Glenn Hunt

What’s next for Commotion?

Commotion evolved from the previous Undercover Artist Development Program, with 2026 giving us the opportunity to pilot a new approach. 

We wanted to learn more about what artists need and how Access Arts and Undercover Artist can support the development of new work by artists with disability and/or who are d/Deaf. 

Commotion also creates a pathway towards opportunities such as Undercover Artist Festival.  

Commotion 2026 has given us plenty to build on, and we’re excited to explore how the program can grow in 2027. 

In the coming weeks, we’ll be launching a fundraising campaign to help make the next chapter of Commotion possible and create more professional and creative development opportunities for disabled and d/Deaf artists and arts workers in Queensland. 

Follow Access Arts and Undercover Artist on social media to see what’s next. 

Your gracious and generous support of the Arts continues to motivate me to improve my work. Thank you for always going above and beyond.

– Rebecca, Commotion Residency participant

With Thanks

Commotion 2026 was made possible with the support of our partners and community.

Thank you to the National Ethnic Disability Alliance for Inclusive Arts Project Funding supporting our online workshops, and to Queensland Ballet and Arts Queensland for supporting access to the Thomas Dixon Centre for our residency and Commotion Open Day. 

Read More

Coming Together Through Creativity

03/12/2025
No Comments

Coming Together Through Creativity

A Stronger Performing Arts Community in 2026

In 2026, Access Arts and Screech Arts will come together under one inclusive, accessible, and artistically rich program of workshops, performances, and creative development opportunities.

This renewal builds on the extraordinary success of Screech Arts’ recent productions PUSH and Wired Differently — two bold showcases of disability-led storytelling, physical theatre, and creative excellence that have inspired audiences and artists alike.
 
PUSH, presented at the 2025 Anywhere Theatre Festival, brought audiences to their feet at The Paint Factory in Yeronga. Directed by Martina Smart and Lynne Bradley, the production shared raw, authentic stories of resilience, imagination, and community through movement, poetry, and song — celebrating what it means to push boundaries and overcome obstacles together.
Wired Differently, co-produced with Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre and presented at Queensland Theatre for Undercover Artist Festival 2025, featured eight extraordinary performers who identify as neurodivergent or living with disability. Through dance, physical theatre, and spoken word, the show invited audiences to see the world through a different lens — one wired for empathy, courage, and creativity.

The performance was astonishing. There was love, touch, warmth, humour, and power — and art. We need these things, so thank you.

— Dr John Bingly, Surgeon & Counsellor
A group of performers on stage at UAF. Their shirts are a blue, grey and green pattern and they are wearing bright coloured pants. Their arms are crossed over their bodies and they are holding hands. Photo credit: Jade Ellis Photography
Two performers on stage in wheelchairs. Two performers next to each of them. The person at the back has 1 arm up, while the person at the front is doing the splits with one leg on the ground and the other on the wheelchair, with her arms up in the air. Photo credit: Jade Ellis Photography

Wired Differently was so beautiful. My heart was bursting. It spoke to my soul.

— Jacinta Maxwell, Performer
These productions reflect the heart of Screech Arts — a space where collaboration, creativity, and courage thrive. Every week, artists come together through Access Arts’ Screech Arts Program to explore new ideas, build confidence, and create powerful performances that challenge and inspire.
 
The program is open to anyone who wants to develop their artistic skills, connect with others, and be part of a vibrant inclusive community. It stands as a testament to the incredible artists, facilitators, and support workers who bring these stories to life — and to the audiences who embrace them with open hearts.
Behind each performance stands a passionate creative team dedicated to inclusive excellence and artistic innovation:
 

 – Martina Smart (Director)

 – Lynne Bradley (Co-Director)

 – Sarah McGill (Choreographer)

 – Niala Lewis (Dramaturg / Writer)

Together, their work continues to redefine what inclusive performance can be – art that moves and connects us all.

Read More

Access Arts and QYO: Spotlighting Connection

29/09/2025
No Comments

Access Arts and Queensland Youth Orchestra:

Spotlighting Connection

For Chantal (Access Arts participant), Dylan (QYO first violinist), and the delighted audience, something extraordinary unfolded at The Old Museum Concert Hall this September.
In a powerful collaboration between Access Arts and Queensland Youth Orchestras (QYO), artist Chantal Simpson took to the stage alongside the full Queensland Youth Orchestra 3, in a performance that will be remembered long after the final, beautifully suspended note played by Dylan and the orchestra. Such a rare moment this is — when movement, music, and meaning align so seamlessly on stage.
 
Chantal, a long-standing member of the Access Arts Theatre and Dance Ensemble, performed a stirring solo choreographed in response to Hope: For Orchestra — a work composed during the height of the COVID pandemic. With Dylan Jae Huang leading as first violinist, the orchestral score echoed the collective feelings of uncertainty, loss, and resilience that artists around the world experienced during that time.
 
Chantal’s performance translated this emotional landscape into movement with both vulnerability and strength, weaving through the music with grace and power. Her connection with the orchestra — and particularly with Dylan — created a captivating dialogue between sound and body

Amazing experience dancing to music by the Youth Orchestra. I’m so proud of what I have been able to achieve — a huge thank you to Access Arts and QYO for creating such a beautiful performance and for all the support.

— Chantal Simpson, Performer
AA _QYO Image
Chantel leaning against the front of the stage, with Dylan sitting on a chair behind her holding his violin. There are members of the QYO around them. Everyone is wearing black and smiling at the camera.

The collaboration marked a significant milestone in inclusive arts programming in Queensland. With the partnership having a lasting impact on QYO’s young musicians, many of whom had never shared the stage with an artist with disability in such an integrated way.

This collaboration with QYO was a profound moment for Access Arts. Seeing Chantal perform with such grace and emotional power, in dialogue with a live orchestra, was a reminder of what’s possible when we center access and share our artistic spaces.

— Tim Brown, Arts Manager, Access Arts

It was an absolute privilege to partner with Access Arts and witness the magic that unfolded on stage. Chantal’s performance added a unique and deeply human layer to the music. For our young musicians, this was a meaningful and unforgettable artistic exchange.

— Amanda Jolly, Executive Director, Queensland Youth Orchestras

We look forward to many more years of collaboration between Access Arts and Queensland Youth Orchestra. We thank everyone for their support in making this happen.

 

Photos by Access Arts. Featuring Chantal Simpson and members of QYO during rehearsal and performance.

Read More

Access Arts Achievement Award Winner 2022

02/12/2022
No Comments
A photo of Oliver wearing a colourful blazer and blue glasses is added onto a pink and yellow watercolour background

Access Arts Achievement Award Winner 2022

Oliver Hetherington-Page

Oliver is standing in front of a black background wearing blue glasses, an orange shirt and a colourful blazer. He is looking slightly off from the camera lens with a calm expression.

Image Description:

Oliver is standing in front of a black background wearing blue glasses, an orange shirt and a colourful blazer. He is looking slightly off from the camera lens with a calm expression.

Oliver Hetherington-Page has been awarded the Access Arts Achievement Award for 2022 for the creation of Santa Claus is Autistic, a new cabaret work that will have its premier season at Redlands Performing Arts Centre in 2023.

 

Oliver is a neurodiverse theatre-maker who debuted his cabaret The No Bang Theory at the Billie Brown Theatre as part of Undercover Artist Festival in 2021. Due to rave reviews the show was taken to The Wynnum Fringe, Adelaide Fringe, HOTA on the Gold Coast and The PIP theatre, with plans to continue the show into 2023.

 

Santa Claus is Autistic was thought up by Oliver Hetherington-Page and aims to highlight the contrast the disabled experience of a fictional outsider, to the very real lived experiences of autism.

“If anyone other than Santa made a list and checked it twice to divide people into either naughty or nice, society would be fast to diagnose and ostracise,” said Oliver.

The piece will feature a neurodiversity choir and will give voice to fostering a better understanding of the barriers and challenges faced by those with autism. Being able to produce a work that uses an authentic voice to accurately portray lived experience has been well received in the community with generous support of the project.

 

Along with helping him to develop and produce this piece, the grant allows Oliver to reunite with fellow creatives, Director Lewis Jones and musical director Timothy Forrester, who helped make his last cabaret The No Bang Theory so successful.

 

Oliver has plans to premier Santa Claus is Autistic in the second half of 2023

Learn More
CPL logo

The Access Arts Achievement Award is sponsored by CPL – Choice, Passion, Life, one of Queensland’s leading disability service providers.  

Read More

Looking Back, Looking Forward – Access Arts’ 10th Anniversary

24/10/2022
No Comments

Looking Forward, Looking Back

Artwork: Birds of a Feather (Detail) by Brisbane Outsider Artists

An exhibition by Access Arts celebrating the
10-year anniversary of KPMG’s sponsorship of its artists.

24 October — 9 December 2022

Art exhibition

KPMG Brisbane, Riparian Plaza

Access Arts is proud to present Looking Back, Looking Forward – an exhibition which shines a light on talented Queensland artists and starts a conversation about the need for greater recognition of artists with disability. 

 

Created by artists from Access Arts’ Brisbane Outsider Artists’ studio, Looking Back, Looking Forward is kindly supported by KPMG Brisbane, the Lord Mayor’s Community Fund, Lord Mayor Cr Adrian Schrinner and Cr Vicki Howard - Central Ward, and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

 

This exhibition celebrates the 10th anniversary of KPMG’s sponsorship of Access Arts artists with disability. The theme, Looking Back, Looking Forward was chosen by the artists to highlight their creative evolution over the past decade and symbolises the development of their creative practice throughout this time. 

Click here to view artworks

Exhibiting artist Kerry Beazleigh said the opportunity to speak about her work publicity at the private viewing last year allowed her to overcome her anxiety.

 

“The KPMG exhibition gave me a feeling as an artist of being very supported and valued,” Kerry said.

 

Her piece this year, Reflecting on Life’s Journey, encourages the audience to delve into their own reflection of life.

 

“In this painting, the symbolism of the mountains hides the uncertainty of what is coming next, while the river represents the twists and turns that life take,” Kerry said.

 

Fellow artist Lisa Blake said she reflects on this year’s theme in her painting The Stars are Aligning, which focuses on coming from the past and heading towards the future.

 

“I have used the rainbow pathway in an older artwork and more recently I’ve been painting stars, so it is looking at my older and newer styles of painting,” Lisa said.

 

The exhibition has provided an opportunity for both artists to explore their futures, reflect on their past and see how far they have come.

 

“The KPMG partnership has been a good opportunity for me to exhibit and sell work in different mediums and meet the person or organisation who has bought my work” said Lisa. 

Looking Back, Looking Forward will be exhibiting at KPMG Brisbane, Riparian Plaza from Monday 24 October until Friday 9 December and will feature a catalogue of Access Arts and KPMG Brisbane exhibition history, collaborative components and artworks created specifically for Looking Back, Looking Forward. The exhibition features 23 new artworks by 18 artists. 

 

All artworks are created by Access Arts’ Brisbane Outsider Artists and are available to view and
for sale online via accessarts.org.au/looking-back-looking-forward.

Access Arts

Read More

2022 Achievement Award Applications Open

19/09/2022
No Comments

All avenues to submit your application for the Access Arts Achievement Award have now been closed. Thank you to all who have applied.

A woman with short brown hair is standing in front of a white background looking at the camera smiling. On the top right hand corner is a watercolour graphic in pinks and yellows with the Access Arts logo in white placed on top.

2022 Access Arts Achievement Award applications - now open!

Apply now for the Access Arts Achievement Award

19 September – 7 November 2022  


Supporting all forms of art, the Access Arts Achievement Award provides up to $10,000 funding for Queensland artists to create, develop, present, produce, exhibit, and tour their work. The award is a fantastic opportunity to extend the life of an existing piece or create a new one!


Read about last year’s award winner, Karen Lee Roberts.

2021 ACCESS ARTS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER

Karen Lee Roberts

Accomplished Brisbane-based cabaret artist Karen Lee Roberts was awarded the Access Arts Achievement Award for 2021. Karen used the $10,000 grant to produce a collaborative work; Sex and Other philosophies

Learn more about Karen
Lady in a green dress under a brick bridge
Important Dates

Applications open for submission:

Applications close for submission:

Award winner advised:

Projects may take place between:

Monday 19 September 2022

Monday 7 November 2022

December 2022

1 January – 31 December 2023

Applications will be assessed by a professional panel who will be looking out for innovative, viable project’s with artistic and/or cultural merit, which will provide opportunity for professional development.
 

The Access Arts Achievement Award is proudly sponsored by CPL – Choice, Passion, Life.

Read More

Home

About Us

Meet the Team

Our Artists

Reconciliation Action Plan

NDIS

Visual Arts Workshops

Creative Ageing

Performing Arts Workshops

Undercover Artist Festival

SAFE Grant

Access Arts Achievement Award

Sync Leadership Australia Online Program

News

Events Calendar

DONATE

GET IN CONTACT