The Winchelsea Shire Hall is proud to bring its latest exhibition to you opening in February. Opening Doors, an exhibition of photographs, celebrates the power of home to transform the lives of people with disabilities.
The Opening Doors photographic exhibition, which features 28 photographs by Melbourne based photographer, Paul Dunn, is part of the Renting for All Project, created by AMIDA (Action for More Independence and Dignity in Accommodation) and produced with the assistance of The Victorian Government.
AMIDA is an independent organisation, which advocates for a broad range of safe, affordable and secure housing options for people with disability, with priority given to people with an intellectual disability.
The OPENING DOORS – Renting for All project was led by people with a disability and has developed a range of information resources that guide people through the process of renting and the world of Real Estate.
People with disabilities face a number of challenges in accessing suitable housing – the aim of the project is to break down discrimination and barriers to a range of housing options including access to the rental market. Opening Doors includes a website which houses 40 videos made for and by people with a disability that explore the journey into the rental world.
But of course, the photographs explore much more, especially the power of safe and affordable accommodation to provide a sense of home and all that it offers us – embedding us in time and place and connecting us to others who share our interests, our values and our beliefs. Come along and witness the power that homes offer us to develop a sense of who we are and to build our connection to community. The points of connection are everywhere – in the books that are read and the way they are placed on a shelf; in the photos of families displayed; of children; of friends, and of lovers; in the art that is created or collected and placed on a wall; in the birthday cards and get well cards; in allegiances to football teams; in the display of faiths and religious beliefs; in political allegiances; in the devotion to pets; in the beautiful design of a loved daughter’s bedroom.
As well as the photographs, you will also be able to see a number of the videos as part of the exhibition program. The videos were made by award winning Australian film-maker, Lawrence Johnston who has also managed the project.
These resources have been endorsed by The Real Estate Institute of Victoria and were used in their real estate training sessions in 2020.
The OPENING DOORS – Renting For All Photographic Exhibition which was launched at the NO VACANCY Gallery in the QV Building in Lonsdale Street, Melbourne in November 2019. It has since toured to a number of regional and metropolitan galleries across Victoria and now makes its way to Winchelsea in February. The opening of the exhibition is on Saturday 17th February at 1.30pm. It will be opened by Libby Mears (former CEO of Leisure Networks) and David Petherick, CEO of the Barwon Disability Resource Centre.
