DONATIONS are being sought to go towards an award in memory of Emma Barrance-Kelly that\u2019ll be granted to an artist with a disability or who makes significant contributions in the space.<\/p>\n
The Emma Barrance Inclusive Arts Award has been organised by the Ballarat Arts Foundation and will seek to honour Ms Barrance-Kelly who passed away last year from bowel cancer and played a crucial role in the creative sector for more than 20 years.<\/p>\n
The award was set up by a group of her friends and colleagues.<\/p>\n
\u201cVerity Higgins said last year why don\u2019t we do something to commemorate Emma\u2019s work in Ballarat and why don\u2019t we set up an award,\u201d said Haydn Smith, member of the Friends of Emma Collective.<\/p>\n
\u201cA group of went \u2018yeah sure\u2019 and we all had different stories with Emma which fitted together in her strategy to encourage arts in the disability sector.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Barrance-Kelly had a relationship with the Ballarat Arts Foundation for more than a decade and was supported emerging artists and creating inclusivity for those with disabilities.<\/p>\n
She founded her own not-for-profit, the Arthur Gallery, which became Arthur Creative.<\/p>\n
It began operating only one day a week of drama and visual arts workshops before it slowly grew to the current five days of classes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe award is either for an arts practitioner from the disability inclusivity sector or someone who facilitates this,\u201d said Mr Smith.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a call out for anyone who had anything to do with Emma or just wants to give to an inclusive arts award.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is hoped the award can encourage diversity in the arts sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cSociety is diverse, so artists are pretty diverse, and it makes absolute sense to include everyone no matter what,\u201d said Mr Smith.<\/p>\n