Access Arts Achievement Award Winner 2022

02/12/2022

Access Arts Achievement Award Winner 2022

Oliver Hetherington-Page

December 2, 2022

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

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

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

October 24, 2022

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.

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.

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.

2022 Access Arts Achievement Award applications - now open!

19 September 2022

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

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.