The Royal New Zealand Ballet is proud to have received the Wellington City Council Accessibility Champion Award for 2019.

The Award recognises an organisation or individual who has made a significant contribution to improving access to the arts and culture in Wellington and is supported by the Wellington Community Trust.

RNZB Education and Community Manager Pascale Parenteau accepted the award on behalf of the company saying ‘I truly understand what it is like to be a parent who wants their child to have the same opportunity as everyone else, and who wishes the best for their loved ones’.

The RNZB was honoured for its ongoing work creating inclusive and enjoyable experiences for audiences with hearing, vision and sensory challenges, who participate in touch tours and audio described performances, sign language interpreted backstage tours, and relaxed performances which have become a regular feature in recent years. 

The RNZB aims to make ballet accessible to everyone; outreach initiatives such as relaxed performances for children and adults with (ADS) autism spectrum disorders, free transport and subsidised performances for students in low decile schools, and the highly successful ballet in prisons project for women and men all contribute to a well-rounded and inclusive community and education programme.

RNZB Artistic Director Patricia Barker is proud and honoured to work with all of the individuals that worked tirelessly as a team to make this happen saying ‘A big congratulations on the efforts and achievements of everyone in our organisation’

The Royal New Zealand Ballet would like to acknowledge the generous financial support of the Wellington based foundations and trusts that make its community initiatives possible including The Ministry for Culture and Heritage, The Lion Foundation, the Four Winds Foundation, the Trillian Trust, the Ballet Foundation of New Zealand and the Wellington Community Trust.