In partnership with Diversity Arts Australia, the VMDO is offering a series of workshops designed to assist businesses and individuals to learn how to best work with marginalised communities including First Peoples, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and people with disability.

About Diversity Arts Australia

Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS) is Australia’s national voice for racial equity in the arts, cultural and creative industries.

Their work is underpinned by a human-rights ethic, social justice principles and the belief that access and participation are fundamental to a democratic, inclusive and sustainable creative sector and society.

Informed by organisational values of inclusion, collaboration, participation and self-determination, DARTS advocated for and actively works towards an arts sector that reflects the complex diversity of the Australian population on our screens and stages; in our audiences, galleries and books; and on boards, committees and positions of leadership into the future. We support the creative sector to develop sustainable and strategic ways to be part of the transformation that needs to happen to ensure that the diversity of cultural expression is promoted and progressed in contemporary Australia.

Diversity Arts Australia has significant experience in delivering training and professional development to the arts and screen communities. They recently facilitated training for Screen Australia, Australia Society of Authors, Information and Cultural Exchange, First Draft Gallery and 10 Victorian organisations as part of the Fair Play program.

Current Workshops

Disability Awareness Training Sessions

Diversity Arts Australia and the VMDO are offering two workshops in December designed to assist music business professionals to work effectively with Deaf and Disabled artists, businesses, communities and audiences.

Please ensure you register for each individual event, in order to secure your spot. The Zoom video conference link is contained within your ticket, which you'll be able to access once your registration has been completed. Live captioning will be available at both events.

Making Live Music Accessible
Tuesday 1st December 2020, 11.00am - 1.00pm AEDT

In this workshop, Morwenna Collett will present the findings from her Churchill Fellowship ‘Building a musically inclusive future for Australian artists, participants and audiences - elements and success factors’. This research explored inclusive music programs, venues and festivals which actively engage disabled people across the USA, UK and Ireland. This session will include:

• General disability inclusion principles

• Potential barriers and access solutions relevant to the music industry

• Access services, new ways of presenting music and assistive technology

• Top access tips for musicians and music organisations (including venues, festivals and presenters)

• Case studies and resources

• The session will include interactive activities to put these ideas into practice.

Cultural Safety from a Disability Perspective
Monday 7th December 2020, 11.00am - 1.00pm AEDT

In this 2 hour workshop with Caroline Bowditch, CEO of Arts Access Victoria, participants will:

• Be introduced to the principles of disability justice and how they relate to the arts and cultural sector

• Imagine what a culturally safe arts sector looks like from a disability perspective across programming, audiences, creative workers, leadership and arts practice

• Engage in self reflection to examine motivations, cultural competency and the impact of their work

• Discuss the Social Model of disability in relation to the arts, and ways to be effective allies and accomplices for Deaf and Disabled artists

Past Workshops

In partnership with Diversity Arts Australia, the VMDO are offering a series of online workshops designed to assist music business professionals to work effectively with CaLD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) artists, businesses, communities and audiences.

In these four sessions, participants will build knowledge and skills in the area of working ethically and effectively within a culturally and linguistically diverse context. The sessions aim to develop the capacities of the Victorian music industry to actively and positively nurture culturally safe spaces and promote effective cross-cultural communication that affirms and embodies the principles of inclusive practice. The sessions together are designed to support individuals to build culturally responsive businesses and an inclusive sector.

The training program will provide participants with professional development and foundation skills to increase the sustainability of their businesses. All four workshops will be conducted by experienced trainers and specialists who have lived experience of the session topics and are from CaLD backgrounds. Additionally, all trainers are from the creative and arts sectors.

Session 1: Cultural Safety 101
Date: Wednesday 3 June, 10am - 12.30pm

Trainers: Dr Ruth DeSouza and MC Trey
In this 2½ hour session, participants will:

• Gain an understanding of the concept of Cultural Safety

• Gain an understanding of practical ways to apply the concept of Cultural Safety, providing both knowledge and practical skills in how to employ Cultural Safety in their workplaces.

• Hear first-hand from contemporary music artist MC Trey about her experiences of cultural safety in the music industry.

• Be provided with resources and readings before and after the workshop.

Session 2: Engaging CaLD Creatives
Date: Wednesday 17 June, 10am - 12.30pm

Trainers: Dr Paula Abood and Dr Görkem (Gerkam) Acaroğlu
In this 2½ hour session, participants will:

• Develop knowledge of key issues affecting CaLD creatives and the barriers to participation in the arts and music industry.

• Identify engagement strategies to facilitate ethical encounters with CaLD artists, creatives, organisations and businesses.

• Identify models of practice and processes to support CaLD creatives that are sustainable and lead to deeper participation.

• Participate in interactive activities and discussions with peers to develop skills and strategies to apply in work and organisational culture.

Session 3: Engaging and Retaining CALD Creatives
Wednesday 1 July, 10am - 12.30pm

Trainers: Dr Paula Abood, Dr Görkem Acaroğlu, Kim ‘Busty Beats’ Bowers
In this 2½ hour session, participants will:

• Deepen your knowledge of key issues affecting CaLD creatives and the barriers to participation in the arts and music industry

• Discuss practical steps and actions to facilitate ethical encounters with CaLD artists, creatives and organisations

• Identify models of practice and processes to support CaLD creatives that are sustainable and lead to deeper participation

• Participate in interactive activities and discussions with peers about ways that access and participation of CALD creatives is substantial and ongoing.

Session 4: Online Marketing to Diverse Audiences
Wednesday 15 July, 10am - 12.30pm

Trainers: Professor Geetanjali Saluja
In this 2½ workshop, participants will:

• Gain an insight into core principles of multicultural marketing in an online environment.

• Develop skills and knowledge that can be applied in your company/workplace/business.

• Develop skills to communicate effectively and ethically in a cross-cultural setting for greater connection with artists, creatives, audiences, clients and key stakeholders.

• Participate in interactive activities and discussions with peers to develop skills, knowledge and strategies.