Dan Graham – Curator & Host
Dan is a theatre director and disability advocate with a particular interest in access support for neuro-diverse performing artists. Dan has a neuro-diverse disability and accompanying neurological challenges that impact his daily life including his creative ability. His directing and access work have seen him travel all over Australia and the world to research and explore access and inclusion. Dan has engaged with companies across Australia such as Bell Shakespeare, Sydney Festival, Sydney Fringe, Antipode Theatre Company, and the Ensemble Theatre. His recent collaborations in the US include the Atlantic Theatre Company and Pasadena Playhouse and in the UK the Globe Theatre. Dan is a fellow of the Australia Council’s Future Leaders Program, an Ian Potter Foundation scholarship, and Create NSW fellowship recipient. He has a stellar director resume and uses his success to advocate for other artists who identify as neurodiverse. Dan studied BA (Communication) and MCA (Theatre, specialising in directing) at the University of Tasmania and Honours in Performance Studies at the University of Sydney. His Honours paper focused on the playwright’s intent and how this is realised in the director’s vision. Dan is a board director of Arts Access Australia and a regular peer assessor for the Australia Council for the Arts. He is the co-chair of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance’s (MEAA) artists with Disability Board and on the LGBTQIA+ disability advisory group for ACON. He is a board member of the Hickson Road Group Accessible Arts, and a member of Accessible Arts NSW Artists Advisory Group. He previously was a board member for Arts Access Australia and a committee member for the Hobart Fringe Festival.
Gayle Kennedy
Gayle is a member of the Wongaiibon clan of South West NSW. In 2005 her book of poetry Koori Girl Goes Shoppin was shortlisted for the David Unaipon Award. Gayle went on to win the award in 2006 with her book Me, Antman & Fleabag. The book was shortlisted for a Victorian Premier’s Literary Award and Deadly Award, and was commended in the Kate Challis RAKA Award. She has had articles and short stories published in diverse publications including The Australian Women’s Weekly, Readers Digest, Australian Author, The Sydney Morning Herald and the Edinburgh Review, as well as books Growing Up Disabled in Australia and Flock. Her graphic novel This Is Country (OUP), was selected to represent Australia at the 2014 Bologna Book Fair, Italy. Gayle has presented at the Sydney Writers Festival, Brisbane Writers Festival, Wordstorm, Festival of the Dreaming, Happiness & Its Causes, Australian Seniors, several Access Arts conferences and presented the 2020 Keynote address at Artscape Wagga Wagga and many more. Gayle is part of the Generation Women alumni and regularly is called upon to speak on behalf of the 60s team. She is also a twice winner of Voices of Women: Monologue Adventures. Her radio play The Debut was commissioned by Urban Theatre Projects, and was produced and played on Gadigal radio in 2014. Gayle has spoken about the Aboriginal perspective of disability across Australia as well as Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and Japan. She has completed two terms as a peer assessor for the Australia Council, and served a term as an assessor for Create NSW and assesses for Arts Access NSW. She also sits on the Board of Directors for Boomalli Artists Co-Operative. Gayle has been called upon for a second term as a presenter on advocacy for The Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS), an advocacy organisation that works with disabled young people.
Anita Hollander
Anita has worked throughout Europe, Asia, Russia and America as an actress, singer, composer, lyricist, director, producer, and teacher. She has premiered new works of composers and playwrights at Carnegie Hall, Playwrights Horizons, and New York Shakespeare Festival, where she sang original work of Philip Glass. She received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical for the Olney Theatre premiere of The Fifth Season and originated the title role in the award-winning play Gretty Good Time at the Kennedy Center in Washington. As a two-time cancer survivor, Anita has negotiated over half her 50-year performing career on one leg, using her disability not only to enhance her roles, but to enlighten the world about disability and promote greater visibility and employment for performers with disabilities. Having served on the National Board of SAG-AFTRA, Anita is National Chair of SAG-AFTRA Performers with Disabilities Committee and a member of the Actors Equity/Broadway League Diversity Coalition. A founding member of Inclusion in the Arts’ project DEAL (Disability in Entertainment & Arts Link), she adjudicates for the ReelAbilities Film Festival and VSA Arts Playwright Discovery Program. Anita served as a National Co-chair of the I AM PWD Campaign (Inclusion in the Arts & Media of People With Disabilities) and maintains a Watchdog Report of disability activity in film, TV and theatre.