Gaye Fleming - 'Arts Coordinator' for Sunnyfield Frenchs Forest Day Option Program

Hello everyone,

Its been along time since posting a message!!!

The last 5 month have been so busy 'Many Hands' creative workshops have joined forces with Sunnyfield. I (Many Hands' creative workshops) have been contracted to be the Arts Coordinator for the Sunnyfield Frenchs Forest Day Option Program. This is an exciting role, and we have been able to achieve so much in this time. 'Many Hands' have created new alliances and partnerships with Power House Museum, Museum of Contemporary of Art, Swoop at Glen Street Theatre, NIDA, Accessible Arts.

The local councils Manly and Warringah Cultural/Art and Access departments have also played a part in creating new alliances, the focus being on local community. Both councils have received my ideas with enthusiasm and encouragement, between the two councils they have awarded grants up to $6000 for Sunnyfield and 'Many Hands' creative workshops for cultural, music, art and digital story programs.

The outcomes of the above have allowed many people from Sunnyfield to explore, 'Swoop' circus performance on a stage at 'Glen Street Theater', Exhibit their art work to the Greater community, have their work commissioned, tell their stories through 'Digital Story' telling at the Manly Art Festival, discuss and expand concepts with educators at the MCA and create their own work within a unique setting, discover the sounds through 'Sounds Circles' Accessible Arts, build on their drama skills with NIDA actors, have fun with the 'Power House' sensory room and play rock music with a youth band on the main stage for the Manly Youth Council 40Th Anniversary.

This is just the beginning we have so much more to look forward to!

The government Art and Cultural department at Canberra has recently invited all the disability sectors of NSW to participate in offering their ideas, strategies, solutions on how best people with a disability can access art and cultural programs.

'Many Hands' has been working collaboratively with Robert Gilchrist Support and Dev Manager and other Managers at Sunnyfield on this important Art and Cultural paper. I am confident that we submitted a strong and structured paper that will hopefully influence a positive outcome for more people with a disability to access the arts in the future. The Submission paper can be accessed via this blog.

I will try to update the blog on a regular bases, Many Hands creative workshop's will be creating a website for 2009. However, time is of the essence and my focus is working with Sunnyfield, extending the art/cultural programs, community partnerships, grants and researching on creating a Sunnyfield art and cultural data base for everyone to access.

Please do read through press releases, program ideas or just contact me if you need to discuss pass or future programs.