The Victorian Labor Government has announced a new arts festival called Alter State, which will take place in Arts Centre Melbourne in September this year. The festival aims to champion works by Deaf and Disabled creatives.

Alter State Festival

Alter State Festival. Image Supplied.

“Improving access, employment opportunities and participation for people with disability are integral to making Victoria a more inclusive place to live, work and enjoy through exciting events like Alter State,” said Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Colin Brooks.

The experiences of those living with disabilities forms the core idea of the festival, creating opportunities for artists to make connections and collaborations, whilst forming an accessible community of creatives.

The program has been developed by creative lead Caroline Bowditch, CEO of Arts Access Victoria, and Arts Centre Melbourne, alongside the festival’s Foundation Artists, Victorian disability activist and writer Carly Findlay, WA-based dancer/choreographer Joshua Pether and New Zealand/Aotearoa dancer Rodney Bell.

It will feature local theatre-makers, including members of Polyglot who will collaborate with UK-based interactive theatre company Oily Cart on a production called When the World Turns, which has...