Tēnā koutou e te whānau,
We are delighted to present our Access programme for the 2024 Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts.
We recognise the many gifts that diversity brings, how it enhances our mahi when we are able to include more people in what we do, when we really come together to experience art.
We are working hard to listen more closely to and consult with our d/Deaf, Disabled and neurodiverse communities to make sure we are taking the right steps, in the right direction. We are working with our partners, our performers and producers, and our audiences to let them know why we are enthusiastic about access and how we can work together to create more accessible events across our Festival.
This year, we have shows which are Audio Described and shows which are NZSL interpreted. We have created an easy-to-read grid for shows to let audiences know the sensory content, giving them the information to decide whether a show is accessible to them or not. We have also created short walkthrough films of our main venues, to allow you to see where shows are happening and what to expect when you get to a venue. All this will be available on our website by mid-January.
We welcome feedback on what we are doing well, and what more we could be doing as we continue our journey to realise the ideal. Access is an ongoing process; when we know better, we can do better.
Unuhia te rito o te harakeke, If you remove the central shoot of the flax bush
Kei hea te kōmako e kō? Where will the bellbird sing?
Ui mai ki ahau, If you were to ask me,
He aha te mea nui o te ao? What is the most important thing in the world?
Māku e kī atū I would reply
He tangata It is people
He tangata It is people
He tangata It is people
Marnie Karmelia, Creative Director
Mere Boynton, Director Ngā Toi Māori
