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 Festival Booking Office. Contact the Festival on (03) 9652 8642 for further details.
LATEST ACCESS NEWS
Audio format information from our program guide is now available for dowload by following the link to: Audio Format Program Guide.
ACCESS MENU
Services for Patrons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Services for Patrions who are Blind or Vision-impaired
Patrons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
This symbol indicates that sound amplification systems are available for people who are hard of hearing.
FM System - The Arts Centre has an FM System that assists with amplification and sound clarity through headset or hearing aid. Please ask the ushering staff for a unit upon entering the venue.
AUSLAN is the major sign language used by the Australian Deaf community. Auslan interpreters will be provided at a number of Festival events.
El Automovil Gris will be accompanied by Auslan interpretation in Saturday 18 October at 8pm. Read more about El Automovil Gris.
Auslan interpreters will be present at the public filming event for Ecstatic City on Friday 26 September between 1.00pm and 3pm. Read more about Ecstatic City.
Further selected events will be accompanied by Auslan interpretation. Return to this page for further updates and information, or email email for more details.
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 and Hard of Hearing.
Either there is no music or dialogue or dialogue is captioned, or scripts/descriptions are given to audience members before the event.
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 Vision-Impaired
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 Navigator will be audio described on Sunday 12 October at 2.00pm. Arrive at 1.30pm at the Concierge Desk at the Arts Centre.
Kitten will be audio described on Wednesday 15 October at 7.30pm. Arrive at 7.00pm at the Box Office at The CUB Malthouse.
7 Important Things will be audio described on Saturday 18 October at 2pm. Arrive at 1.30pm at the Concierge Desk at the Arts Centre.
Terra Nova Sinfonia Antarctica will be audio described on Sunday 19 October at 9.00pm. Arrive at 8.30pm at the Concierge Desk at the Arts Centre.
Event descriptions from the Festival Program Guide are available in downloadable mp3 format. The information is divided into 8 files.
To request a large-print version of event descriptions please call 9662 4242 or email here.
Guide dogs are welcome at all Melbourne International Arts Festival events.
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 & 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 9662 4242 or via email here.
Please note the physical access conditions for the following venues:
Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces: Patrons with mobility impairments may require assisted access by venue staff. Please contact staff on arrival should such assistance be required.
Eleventh Hour Theatre: Patrons with mobility impairments may require assisted access by venue staff. Please inform the box office of any special needs upon making your booking.
Companion card
Some people with a disability require the assistance of a companion or carer to access venues and events. Melbourne International Arts 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 (exception: internet bookings).
further information
For further information on access to Festival events, please contact Melbourne International Arts Festival on (03) 9662 4242 or via email here.
Information about accessible parking and public transport in the City of Melbourne is available at http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/rsrc/PDFs/Mobility/CBDMobilityMap2008.pdf
Information and facilities on the map 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