NAVA launches its Disability Action Plan
The plan reflects NAVA’s long-term commitment to challenging ableism and prioritising equitable conditions for d/Deaf and Disabled artists and arts workers.
The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) is proud to announce the launch of its Disability Action Plan (DAP), a pivotal initiative that affirms NAVA’s commitment to championing inclusivity and equity in the visual arts.
This plan reflects NAVA’s long-term commitment to challenging ableism and prioritising equitable conditions for d/Deaf and Disabled people to thrive across all aspects of the visual arts. It builds on the principles of access and equity outlined in NAVA’s Code of Practice for the Visual Arts, Craft and Design.
“NAVA’s Disability Action Plan is a living document, designed to grow and adapt over time, ensuring we remain responsive to the evolving needs and rights of our community,” says Penelope Benton, Executive Director.
“We recognise that access and inclusion are not static goals but ongoing commitments that call for genuine dialogue, thoughtful feedback, and a readiness to embrace change. The arts have always been a powerful driver of social progress, and at NAVA, we believe it is our responsibility to lead by example, creating a more inclusive and equitable visual arts sector.”
Holly Morrison, NAVA’s Finance and Operations Coordinator and the author of the plan, added, “NAVA’s Disability Action Plan builds on years of consultation and collaboration with artists, arts workers, and organisations across the country. Guided by the principles of equity and accessibility set out in the Code, this plan reflects the collective knowledge and experience of our advisory group of Disabled artists and arts workers and NAVA’s commitment to listening, learning, and implementing good practice. I’m looking forward to all the work NAVA will embark on over the next three years.”
The release of NAVA’s DAP aligns with the Australian Government’s launch of Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan, an initiative of the Revive policy. The government plan calls for stronger representation and disability equity across the arts, screen and cultural sectors and contributes to the broader goals of Australia’s Disability Strategy.
Disability Action Plan goals
NAVA’s Disability Action Plan sets out four key goals aligned with its mission to improve fundamental conditions of work and practice:
- Challenge ableist attitudes and behaviours in the visual arts.
- Create an accessible community for NAVA Members.
- Support the employment and work of Disabled artists and arts workers.
- Establish accessible systems and processes within NAVA and for its Members.
NAVA’s approach follows the social and human rights models of disability, recognising that barriers—whether physical, attitudinal, or systemic—must be addressed for d/Deaf and Disabled people to fully participate in the arts.
Cover artwork
The DAP cover artwork features Unsolicited Advice! by NAVA Member Amy Claire Mills, a striking critique of the societal impulse to “rescue” or “fix” Disabled people. This interactive installation amplifies the clichés and unsolicited advice often directed at Disabled individuals, inviting audiences to engage with vibrant quilts and cushions that embody these experiences.
NAVA’s commitment to accessibility
NAVA encourages the sector to adopt inclusive practices that empower d/Deaf and Disabled people as artists, arts workers, and audiences. Recognising the intersectionality of disability with race, gender, and socio-economic factors, NAVA highlights the importance of ongoing learning and collaboration to address overlapping forms of discrimination and marginalisation.
The NAVA Disability Action Plan January 2025 - December 2027 is now available for download at nava.net.au.
Image credit
Amy Claire Mills, Unsolicited Advice!, 2021. Installation view, Firstdraft, Sydney, 2021. Photo by Zan Wimberley.
ID: A white wall which has small brightly coloured and elaborately decorated cushions, of different shapes, stuck all over it. On the cushions are different messages e.g. Losing weight, Yoga, Paleo diet, Healing crystals.
NAVA also acknowledges contributions to the Easy English version of the Disability Action Plan, which features the following images on pages 8–9:
- Billy Kenda, Cold day, cloudy – they’re lookin’ at Country side. My Mother and Father and Little Kid., 2024, acrylic on canvas. Courtesy of Bindi Mwerre Anthurre Artists Studio and the Copyright Agency.
- Emmy Webbers, courtesy of Solid Lines and The Jacky Winter Group.
- ENOKi, courtesy of Solid Lines and The Jacky Winter Group.
- Emily Johnson, courtesy of NAVA, 2020.
