Annual Report 2011 - Sydney Opera House

40community engagement and aCCessimagination lives insidecustomer Service and AccessA range of programs gave patrons who are blind or vision impairedopportunities to engage with live performances.Overview > Sydney Opera House’s firstmembership program, Insiders, waslaunched in September 2010. Gaining its2,000th member in June 2011, Insidersprovides members with priority booking,ticket and parking discounts, dining offersand other benefits with partners onsiteand around Sydney.Ensuring high quality service is extendedto all visitors, artists and staff at theirentry point to Sydney Opera House,the Host Team took over operations atStage Door in December 2010. The teamundertook training with Vision Australiain order to provide appropriate customerservice to people who are blind or visionimpaired, while broader customer servicetraining was provided to 224 staff (p.65).Sydney Opera House partnered withOpera Australia and Vision Australia topresent audio-described performances ofThe Pirates of Penzance and The Barberof Seville, and will continue to present aseries of audio-described operas next year.In November 2010 a group of 80 studentsattended a performance of The Man WhoPlanted Trees, with a pre-performancesession allowing them to touch and feelthe puppets and props. A sensory sessionalso enabled 40 young people to exploreinstruments used in performances ofLah-Lah’s Big Live Band in June 2011.A socially inclusive and Auslan-interpretedperformance of Me and My Shadow wasattended by 40 participants from theAutism Spectrum Association and RoyalDeaf and Blind School in April 2011.Introduced by Sydney Opera House AccessAmbassador and gold-medal winningParalympian Louise Sauvage OAM, theevent showcased access experiences fordonors, theatre companies, governmentand peak access organisations.Challenges > Increasing participation forpatrons with disabilities – A strategicapproach to building development hasaddressed some key access issues throughthe installation of lifts, escalators andother accessible amenities. Despite thisprogress, securing funding to ensure fullindependent access to the major venuesand associated foyer areas remains achallenge. Along with building projects,access barriers are addressed throughvarious initiatives, including staffassistance for patrons, a regular courtesyshuttle bus from Circular Quay, andaccessible signage and information onsite.Access strategies will continue to focuson removing physical barriers as well asincreasing participation for people withdisabilities through artistic programmingopportunities, industry partnerships andawareness raising activities (p.102).The Future > + Online captioned videoproviding information on accessibleservices for people with disabilities,presented by Louise Sauvage OAM(2011/12). + Continued presentationof audio-described performances incollaboration with Opera Australia andVision Australia (2011/12). + Access forYoung Audiences initiative continuedwith more performances as part ofKids at the House and House:Edprograms (2011/12).