SUPPORT: Elizabeth Hill, from Accessible Arts, with Belmont artist Maryanne Ireland at the Newcastle forum.
VISUAL artists, musicians and dancers with a disability gathered in Newcastle last week for an information-sharing session on the National Disability Insurance Scheme roll out.
About 60 Hunter artists with a disability, their carers and service providers met at Newcastle Museum to talk about what support they would need to be better connected to the rest of the community.
The scheme will allocate money to the individual, rather than the service they need.
The Hunter region is the largest of five locations across Australia to be included in the $1 billion launch, which kicks off in July.
About 10,000 people from the Hunter are expected to benefit from the scheme.
Belmont artist Maryanne Ireland said she hoped the scheme would break down barriers that artists with a disability faced.
She said while some could use the money for transport, others might be able to use their money for art supplies.
"People with a disability should be able to engage socially and economically with society," Ms Ireland said.
Accessible Arts CEO Sancha Donald said the scheme would help both work-related and recreational artists.
"It will give them choice, control and empowerment," she said.