Melbourne International Arts Festival
Access Information
Melbourne International Arts Festival is committed to improving access for all people. Access symbols have been used throughout this website to indicate services and facilities available at Festival events. It is important that ticketing staff are notified of your requirements at the time of booking to ensure that suitable seating is allocated or other necessary arrangements can be made.
Melbourne International Arts Festival provides some tickets at specially discounted prices through the n-able ticketing service. Contact the Festival office for further information: (03) 9662 4242 or send us an email here.
REQUESTING AUSLAN INTERPRETING AND AUDIO DESCRIPTION
This year the Festival has developed a trial program for patrons to request which performances they would like to have AUSLAN Interpreted or Audio Described. To assist the Festival in planning these services please make your request by downloading the Auslan Interpreting & Audio Description Request Form.
The request procedure is also available in an AUSLAN interpreted video format and an AUDIO format.
The deadline for requests is 20 August. Requests do not require payment. Some terms and conditions apply, please click here for more details. Contact the Festival office for further information: (03) 9662 4242 or send us an email here.
ACCESS MENU
SERVICES FOR PATRONS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING
SERVICES FOR PATRONS WHO ARE PATRONS WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION
Accessible parking and public transport
Terms and conditions for AUSLAN and Audio Description services
PATRONS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING
This symbol indicates that sound amplification systems are available for people who are hard of hearing.
A hearing system is available in the Arts Centre, providing coverage to all seats via headphones or neckloops through an FM signal. Please request a unit from the venue staff.
At other venues Ampetronic Induction Loops are available to patrons with a hearing aid via the "T" setting on their device. For more assistance please ask the venue staff.
AUSLAN is the major sign language used by the Australian Deaf community.
The Festival may provide AUSLAN interpreting on request. Download the Request Form and view the AUSLAN interpreted video of the request procedure. The deadline for requests is 20 August. For full terms and conditions click here.
The visual symbol provides an indicator for the level of visual elements in a performance to assist in determining if the event is accessible for audience members who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
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No music/sounds or dialogue, or event is captioned or Auslan-interpreted |
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May have music/sounds in the background, or may be partly captioned (or surtitled) or scripts/descriptions are given to the audience before the event on request |
PATRONS WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION
Audio description is a narration of the visual elements of a live theatre performance for persons with low or no vision. Through the use of a small radio receiver and earpiece, patrons can listen to concise descriptions of costumes, stage settings, actions, expressions and gestures as they are transmitted live in between the dialogue.
The Festival may provide Audio Description on request. Download the Request Form and listen to the Audio format of the request procedure. Deadline for requests is 20 August. For full terms and conditions click here.
Event descriptions from the Festival Program Guide are available in downloadable mp3 format. Listen to mp3 files of the Festival Program.
To request a large-print version of event descriptions please call (03) 9662 4242 or email here.
PHYSICAL ACCESS
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS
Every effort has been made to ensure that Melbourne International Arts Festival events are accessible for people who use wheelchairs or who have limited mobility. If this symbol is not displayed, access may be limited. Please contact the Festival for more information.
The Festival acknowledges that attendance at free and non-allocated seating events may be more difficult for people with limited mobility. If you require assistance at an event without allocated seating please contact our n-able ticketing service on (03) 9662 4242 or via email here.
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Gertrude Contemporary
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the Forum Theatre
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fortyfivedownstairs
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St Carthage's Catholic Church
Companion Card
Some people with a disability require the assistance of a companion or carer to access venues and events. Melbourne Festival offers a second ticket at no cost to people who possess a Companion Card and who purchase tickets for Festival-controlled events through Ticketmaster or venue box offices (not available for internet bookings).
CARER Card
Melbourne Festival recognises Carers in our community by offering Carer Card holders a 25% concession to most Festival performances who purchase tickets through Ticketmaster or venue box offices (not available for internet bookings). The Carer Card must be presented at the venue.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information on access to Festival events, please contact Melbourne International Arts Festival on (03) 9662 4242 or n-able@melbournefestival.com.au
Information about accessible parking and public transport in the City of Melbourne is available at http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/CommunityServices/DisabilityServices/Pages/Disabilityservices.aspx
Information and facilities include: wheelchair accessible toilets and telephones; public TTY phones; disability designated car parking spots; accessible off street parking; train stations; accessible pathways; taxi ranks; public seating; and street gradients.
For information about Melbourne's trains, trams and buses, including timetables, ticketing information and maps, please call Metlink on 131 638 or visit metlinkmelbourne.com.au
Terms and conditions for AUSLAN Interpreting and Audio Description services
Requests do not require payment. The completed request form must be returned to the Festival by 20 August 2010. This is to allow enough time for liaison with the artistic companies and service providers to ensure the best possible performance can be delivered to you. All requests will be considered however in some circumstances the service may not be able to be provided due to circumstances outside of the Festival's control relating to a venue or artistic company. In this instance another event, date or time may be suggested.