February 17, 2012

Nominations for Big ‘A’ Creative New Zealand Arts For All Award 2012

Arts Access Aotearoa is calling for nominations to the Big ‘A’ Creative New Zealand Arts For All Award 2012. This award recognises an arts organisation, company, venue or producer that best demonstrates its commitment to developing its audiences by becoming more accessible to the disabled community.

The Big ‘A’ Awards 2012 will be presented by Arts Access Aotearoa at a ceremony in the Banquet Hall of Parliament on 18 July. The closing date for nominations is Friday 23 March 2012.

Last year’s recipient of the inaugural Big ‘A’ Creative New Zealand Arts For All Award was theGovettBrewsterArtGalleryin New Plymouth. Director Rhana Devenport said it was “a privilege” to attend the awards ceremony in Parliament and accept the award, along with New Plymouth Mayor Harry Duynhoven. 

“It was a fantastic opportunity to hear about and be inspired by what other people and organisations are doing to improve access to the arts acrossNew Zealand,” she says. “It also gave us the chance to thank our partners in the community and recognise the important role the New Plymouth District Council’s Disability Strategy has played in framing our accessibility strategy.

“And finally, it’s encouraged us to maintain our focus on the importance of accessibility to the arts – a commitment that brings us enormous and unexpected rewards.” 

To be eligible, the nominee must be able to demonstrate it has improved its access for disabled people between January 2011 and up to the nomination closing date (i.e. 23 March 2012).

The recipient of this award will receive $2500, to be used to progress its work in improving access to disabled audiences. In addition, up to two representatives will be hosted to attend the awards ceremony at Parliament.

The Big ‘A’ Creative New Zealand Arts For All Award complements Arts Access Aotearoa’s Arts For All programme. A partnership programme with Creative New Zealand, it works with representatives from the disability sector and local councils to support arts organisations, companies, venues and producers to improve their accessibility.

Stephen Wainwright, Chief Executive, Creative New Zealand, is one of the six judges of the Big ‘A’ Awards 2012.  “This is a great opportunity to let us know about the work being done throughoutNew Zealandto build new audiences for the arts by improving access,” he said. “The judges are looking forward to seeing strong proposals from arts organisations of all sizes, as the more people that have access to their products and services the more successful they will become.” 

The closing date is Friday 23 March 2012. The six award categories are:

• Big ‘A’ Artistic Achievement Award, recognising the outstanding achievements and contribution of an artist based inNew Zealandwho has a physical, sensory or intellectual impairment, or is a mental health service user
   
• Big ‘A’ Creative Space Award, recognising the outstanding contribution and impact of a creative space that provides opportunities for people with limited access to make art, across any or all artforms
   
• Big ‘A’ Community Partnership Award, recognising a mutually beneficial partnership between two or more organisations or groups actively engaged in a community-based arts project
   
• Big ‘A’ Creative New Zealand Arts For All Award, recognising an arts organisation, company, venue or producer that best demonstrates its commitment to developing its audiences by becoming more accessible to the disabled community
   
• Big ‘A’ Prison Arts Leadership Award, recognising the outstanding contribution of an individual using the arts as a tool to support the rehabilitation/reintegration of prisoners The individual must be an employee, contractor or volunteer with the Department of Corrections. 
   
• Big ‘A’ Prison Arts Community Award, recognising the outstanding contribution of a community group or community organisation working with the Department of Corrections and using the arts as a tool to support the rehabilitation/reintegration of prisoners. 

The Big ‘A’ Awards 2012 presentation will be held in the Banquet Hall at Parliament on 18 July. Last year’s awards ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests.

For full information and nomination forms go to this website.