Faulty lift forcing disabled to crawl up stairs into Salamanca Arts Centre

A ‘tongue in cheek’ sign has emerged pointing to the plight of a much loved community centre still being inaccessible to many due to a faulty lift.

From left, protest organiser Kate Kelly, disability advocate Ana Pike, artist Jon Kudelka and Disability Voices Tasmania director Michael Smalls at the ribbon un-cutting ceremony for the Salamanca Arts Centre lift.

Community members have heard that wheelchair users have been forced to drag themselves up stairs and be carried by the public into the Salamanca Arts Centre (SAC) at a flash protest for the building’s faulty lift on Saturday.

Angered artists and disability advocates gathered at SAC to mark almost six months without the lift, with esteemed Hobart artist Jon Kudelka presenting ‘tongue-in-cheek’ signage stating ‘Waiting for liftot’ for the lift’s entrance.

Artist Jon Kudelka's 'tongue-in-cheek' signage for the faulty Salamanca Arts Centre lift.

Artists raised the alarm in February this year after repeated attempts to fix the lift by the building’s landlord the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE) stalled.

A leaking roof is believed to be the cause of the lift’s breakdown.

Community choir group organiser Crystal relayed the story of a family of 10 with Huntington’s disease who had to be carried to the second floor of the SAC to see their daughter sing at a recent performance.

“Our space is basically welcome to everyone, but at this time I can’t encourage certain people to come along and I have lost members of these groups who are worried about the stairs,” she said.

A crowd of artists, disability advocates and community members at the protest for the Salamanca Arts Centre lift.

Another artist said she had seen community members leave their wheelchairs at the bottom of the SAC stairs and crawl up and down in order to access upper floors.

Disability Voices Tasmania director Michael Small said NRE Tasmania and state government had an obligation to address the ‘systemic’ issue of access.

“Given these responsibilities and commitments, I find it astonishing that after nearly six months of without a lift, this invaluable community resource SAC is still inaccessible,” he said.

Mr Small said NRE Tasmania and the state government have a responsibility under UN conventions as well as state, federal and department obligations to ensure this situation is well managed.

Mr Smalls stated appropriate steps for NRE Tasmania should have included a community advisory board when the breakdown occurred as well as ensuring alternatives like accessible exhibition spaces outside SAC where made available while the lift was broken.

From left, protest organiser Kate Kelly, disability advocate Ana Pike, artist Jon Kudelka and Disability Voices Tasmania director Michael Smalls at the ribbon un-cutting ceremony for the Salamanca Arts Centre lift.

In response to the protests, NRE Tasmania said it’s organisation Parks and Wildlife Service was continuing to work with “specialist consultants” to reinstate the Arts Centre’s lift, but parts sourced had failed to fix the faults.

“There are no immediate options available to make the lift operate and until specialised advice is obtained and a solution found, it is necessary to seek an exemption from the anti-discrimination commission,” a department spokeswoman said.

“All options for an interim or alternative short-term elevator lift access solution have been exhausted with lift maintenance operators and suppliers.”

PWS has encouraged Arts Centre’ tenant to contact the Centre management to find an alternative working space while it awaits a review of solutions for the lift expected by the end of May.

Originally published as Faulty lift forcing disabled to crawl up stairs into Salamanca Arts Centre