PhotoAccess is the ACT and region’s centre for photography, moving image and media arts. An established non-profit based at the Manuka Arts Centre, we create opportunities for all in our community to explore photography as a means of self-expression, cultural participation and positive social change. Each year, we partner with community service organisations to engage and support those will limited access to the arts to learn image-making skills, document their experience and add their voices to the public conversation. Our outreach program enables marginalised and disadvantaged groups to develop greater social belonging and cultural connection, as well technical and creative skills essential to participating in our image-saturated society.

How we will use the funds

Our outreach program is designed so that everybody who wants to participate, can. It's free and we supply expert tuition and all required equipment. We rely particularly heavily on our set of ten laptops – used by project participants to process and edit images, create visual narratives and make short films. Unfortunately, our current suite of laptops is almost a decade old and already well past the end of its operational life. Our computers are simply breaking down, as well as becoming increasingly incompatible with accessible photo and video editing software packages that. This is reducing the kinds of programs we can run and impacting the quality of participants’ experiences and outcomes. In the not too distant future, we’ll just have to stop the program. To enable our outreach program to continue and grow, we’re inviting you to join us in purchasing ten new laptops at a cost of $2,499 each or a total of $24,990 (incl. GST).

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