Alter State

Wominjeka yearmann koondee biik Wurundjeri balluk.

Welcome to the land of the Wurundjeri people.

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we gather and meet, the Wurundjeri, Woi-Wurrung people, and pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

We acknowledge the Taangata Whenua of Aotearoa, and their Elders, past and present.

Me Mahi Tahi Taatou mo te Oranga o te Katoa.

We shall work together for the wellbeing of everyone.

We wish to extend our respect and acknowledgement to First Nations Elders across Australia and the First Nations artists who come together as part of this program.

Welcome / Wominjeka / Tēnā koutou

Alter State is a celebration of disability, creativity and culture.

Co-presented by Arts Centre Melbourne and Arts Access Victoria, Alter State is a major arts and disability event engaging artists and audiences across Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand).

Seeding something unique for arts and disability, the Alter State 2024 program will be announced soon, keep your eyes out for updates from Arts Centre Melbourne & Arts Access Victoria.

Alter State, a celebration of disability, creativity and culture

Alter State is Arts Centre Melbourne’s Disability- Led Arts initiative engaging artists and audiences from Australia and Aotearoa ( New Zealand).

Our ambition is to alter the current state of the arts by investing in Deaf and Disability Leadership as creative intervention to bring about significant cultural and structural change.

Co-founded and presented by Arts Centre Melbourne and Arts Access Victoria Alter State aims to:

Explore Deaf and Disability led art from Australia and Aotearoa
Enjoy works that engage audiences in new and exciting ways
Be part of making space for kōrero and storytelling shaped by disability

Alter State Key Dates

Program Announcement:

July 2024

Alter State 2024:

First two weeks of October 2024.

Note: Dates to be announced.

In October 2022, Alter State had its inaugural festival presenting 28 performances, including 5 world premiere events, schools’ performances and 14 different types of art forms, as well as 32 films, in-conversation sessions, and workshops.

210 people were directly contracted or employed to deliver ALTER STATE, including over 100 Deaf and Disabled artists. 75% of external funding for ALTER STATE was reinvested back into creative industries and the disability sector, where 17 small to medium and 4 major cultural partners collaborated on ALTER STATE, significantly contributing to the festival’s reach and success.

More than 5,700 audience members engaged with ALTER STATE, in-person and online. Nearly 75% of audiences engaged with ALTER STATE content online and 90% of audiences surveyed felt ALTER STATE celebrated disability-led artistic expression, one of the major goals of the festival.

Register your interest

Fill out this form to be contacted by Arts Centre Melbourne for information about upcoming Accessible Events and more.

Read our privacy policy