The Cultural Access Awards is Art-Reach’s annual celebration of the work of our partners, highlight their achievements and shine a light on cultural accessibility. The award ceremony also acts as an annual fundraiser for Art-Reach, providing essential support to continue its work in mobilizing thousands of individuals to engage with the vibrant arts and culture in the Philadelphia Region.
This year Art-Reach goes back to our roots for the Cultural Access Awards by hosting a Brunch at FringeArts from 12–3PM! The brunch will include a daring performance by the Almanac Dance Circus Theatre, and a beautiful collaborative performance by St Katherine’s Day School students with intellectual disabilities and the Pennsylvania Ballet! Art-Reach is proud to present the Cultural Access Awards to The Pennsylvania Ballet, SpArc and Roger Ideishi.
Join Us!
2017 Cultural Access Awards May 6 from 12–3 PM
FringeArts
140 North Columbus Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19106
To purchase tickets, click here
About the 2017 Awardees
Roger Ideishi, Individual Impact Award Recipient
Ideishi is Program Director and Associate Professor Occupational Therapy at Temple University. His work to foreground cultural accessibility spans nearly a decade. Working to overcome barriers in the arts for people with developmental disabilities Ideishi has committed himself to ensuring the access exists for everyone. Ideishi works with cultural organizations such as Pennsylvania Ballet, Walnut Street Theatre and People’s Light to bring sensory friendly performances to the Greater Philadelphia region. Nationally he has worked with the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and the Smithsonian.
Pennsylvania Ballet, Arts Partner Award Recipient
Over the last several years, the Pennsylvania Ballet has expanded their work with Art-Reach to ensure that people with cognitive and physical disabilities are able to fully integrate with their program. As a regular occurrence, Art-Reach Member Agencies visit the Pennsylvania Ballet dance studio on North Broad Street to take master dance workshops with principle dancer, Jon Martin. In December 2016, PA Ballet became the first Resident Company of the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts to produce a main stage sensory friendly production.
SpArc Philadelphia, Member Agency Award Recipient
SpArc Services-Cultural Arts Center: has a dynamic curriculum that includes art, music, theater, ceramics and movement classes in an environment that fosters creativity and the discovery of a personal voice. Group outings to cultural venues, collaborations with other artists, and partnerships with like-minded organizations round out a program that focuses on self-expression and opportunities for community involvement. Our goal is to bring a love and understanding of the arts to people with disabilities while connecting them with the world outside our studio.
A member of Art-Reach since 2006, SpArc has taken part in studio master classes at the Pennsylvania Ballet, toured Franklin Institute, enjoyed the music of Live Connections, saw the hippos at the Adventure Aquarium, and helped Art-Reach build an art making program at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.
