Spring is definitely in the air as we gear up for the Beautiful Me, Beautiful Us Tutti Kids Cabaret on September 7th, the Choirs begin rehearsing for the 2012 Christmas Concert, and Visual Arts prepare for forthcoming exhibitions, including the Royal Show and an end of year fundraising exhibition featuring the work of professional and emerging artists, with and without a disability.

Tutti's winter concert already seems long ago but its memory lingers on and I'm sure that everyone who was lucky enough to attend would agree that this was an exceptional event, brilliantly conducted by Laura Ellis and accompanied by the band Working Dog Union. Working Dog Union (drums, Uilleann pipes and keyboards) was led by Richard Chew, whose oratorio Rites of Passage gave the concert its name. Despite the cold, over 400 people came to two inspiring performances at the Waterside Workers Hall on June 23rd and both brought the audience to their feet. Some who came in the afternoon even returned for the evening performance and others bought tickets for their friends and family. As Peter Goers commented, "It is a rare delight to see people waltzing spontaneously in the aisles." Our thanks go to Vitalstatistix for their warm hospitality, to our comperes Dougie Jacobssen, Craig Behenna and Peter Goers (who drove all the way back from the Riverland just to be with us for the evening show) and to all who came along to support the fabulous Tutti Choir and soloists.

The SitDownShutup&Watch team ran their first filmmaking and new media workshop in the Barossa during the week June 25th - 28th. The week resulted in a great little five minute film called Free at Last and feedback about the delivery was very positive for the group. The team is now planning their presentation for the Kumuwuki Big Wave Conference at Goolwa on Saturday October 20th as part of ScrLk (Scroll Lock), the largest survey of disability led digital work from across Australia. Three presenters from the SitDownShutup&Watch steering committee (James Kurtze - Tutti, Samantha Charles - Barossa, and Matthew Wauchope - Clare) will present a selection of film and new media work by learning disabled artists and discuss the evolution and development of the SitDownShutup&Watch (SDS&W) festival from a disability led perspective, scheduled for 2014.

Hot off the press is news that Radio National will be producing Cactus, a radio play which Tutti's blind artists are developing with myself and playwright Stephen House. Supported by Radio National radio drama Executive Producer Anna Messariti and ABC Director Chris Williams, the script will be recorded and broadcast in 2013. Our great thanks to the Adelaide Hills Zonta Club for sponsoring the first stage development workshops for this small but significant venture for Tutti Artists.

Another positive development for the disability arts sector this month has been DATT (Disability Arts Transition Team) fully transforming into South Australia's newest disability arts organisation Access To Arts.

Finally we congratulate artist/advocate Katherine Annear (leader of the Tutti Kids Enfield group and Tcik project) on her selection as the South Australian artist to attend the Arts Unlimited Festival as part of the London Paralympics. Katherine tutors the Tutti Kids Enfield group and Galway 1 and she is lead tutor for TciK (Tutti creative intelligent Kids) project which is now underway with funding from DECD. Good on you Katherine and say hi to all those brilliant UK disability arts companies and individual artists from all of us!

Pat Rix

Artistic Director

Tutti has been given the opportunity to showcase the choir and the talent of individual soloists at the Australian Leadership Award Cultural Evening, to be held at Flinders University on August 31st.

This is an evening of Arts for All for 20 Indonesian Fellows and a range of others associated with the Disability & Community Inclusion Unit.

Tutti will perform the finale from 7pm to 8pm.

This term sees the introductionof the TciK (Tutti's creative, intelligent Kids) project led by Katherine Annear and the Enfield group who have been hard at work preparing submissions for their projects. With funding from DECD (Department of Education and Childhood Development) iPads have been purchased to enable children to create and develop short films, music clips and stop motion animation. The second phase of the project will include the creaton of an online hub where the kids can publish their artworks.

Hopefully some of the work will be revealed at the Tutti Kids Annual Cabaret - Beautiful Me, Beautiful Us at the Novita Theatre in Regency Park on September 7th. Make sure to put this date in your diary so you can see what our creative, intelligent next generation is up to in performance and new media.

Look out for Tutti Artist Kimberly Sellers' art profile which is featured in this year's Royal Adelaide Show Magazine. Kimberly has submitted a diptych entitled The Year of the Dragon which will be exhibited at the Royal Adelaide Show Art Purchase Prize Exhibition.

Kimberly says, "I was inspired by 2012 being the Year of the Dragon and it's also my Chinese zodiac sign." The exhibition runs from September 7-15th, 2012 and will be open from 9am to 9pm in the Goyder Pavilion. Thirteen other Tutti Visual Artists will also be exhibiting at the show. Be sure to view the art if you attend the show this year.

The official opening for the exhibition will be on Thursday September 6th from 6.30 - 8pm. Ian Henschke from ABC 891 Adelaide will be hosting the evening.

Tutti Visual Arts is delighted to announce that a new gallery is being created in Galway House which will be ready for exhibitions towards the end of this year. We are looking for some volunteers during a weekend in August to help paint the gallery walls white. If you are able to help please contact info@tutti.org.au or call Tutti on 8422 6511.

"Hello South Australia. My name is Dougie and I'm in the City-Bay Fun Run again this year! This year marks the 40th anniversary of the City-Bay and I would love you to support Team Tutti and help me with our target of $3,000.

I'm raising money for a show about someone called Jem who had cerebral palsy like me. It's called Eye Music because Jem couldn't control anything except his eyes. He used to talk with his eyes using a Bliss Board and he told us his whole life story with it.

Jem had an amazing life. He couldn't walk or talk and no one even knew he had a brain before he learned to use the Bliss Board, but once Jem knew which symbols to look at he was off and running. The thing that made him happiest was that someone told him there aren't any wheelchairs in heaven. We all hope that's right because that's where he is now.

Anyway, this year I'm doing the City-Bay Fun Run for Eye Music because this show about his life is amazing.  It would be great if you can all help us raise money to produce Eye Music. That way you can be a little part of it and support my fellow artists and  our amazing creativity at Tutti at the same time! It's going to be on in May 2013 at the State Opera Studio. And it will be great! And I mean really great!"

Dougie, who has cerebral palsy, has been a passionate member of Tutti for six years and will comptete in the City-Bay 12k course in a wheelchair, carrying the Do It For Dougie sign all the way! The annual City-Bay Fun Run will be held on Sunday September 16th this year. This is a fundraiser to support our young artists with disabilities in Tutti, and your support is very much appreciated!

If you would like further information about joining Team Tutti in the City-Bay, please contact Linda Jacobssen at linda.jacobssen@tutti.org.au or call 8422 6511

To support Dougie and his team, please donate online by visiting http://everydayhero.com.au/tutti_9

Banjobe started at Tutti this year. He is a talented visual artist.

What do you enjoy about coming to Tutti?

I enjoy painting, I love painting and drawing

Tell us something about your painting Banjobe

It's the Dalai Llama. I painted a two tone picture. I was born in Thailand. It took me a month and a half to do this painting.

When did you come to Australia?

About 20 years ago, I'm 29 now. I would like to go back for a holiday.

How long have you been at Tutti?

About 3 months I think, I love it here

Tutti Arts Coordinator Patricia and Tutti Tutor Mel are part of a group exhibition at Cocks Auld Real Estate offices at 139 King William Road, Unley. The exhibition runs from August 3rd until August 26th with the opening night party on Thursday 16th August from 6 - 8pm.

Patricia and Mel would love to see you there. For more information please look on the SALA website here http://www.salafestival.com.au/Details.aspx?showid=1536

Some of the Tutti Artists are taking part in Restless Dance's production of Howling Like a Wolf. This new work examines the science of non-verbal communication between humans. Be stunned by Duchenne's pioneering electric-shocks-to-the-face research. Enlightened by Charles Darwin's theories on man and animal. Influenced by body language guru Allan Pease. Hoodwinked by deception specialist Paul Ekman! Queens Theatre will be transformed into a surreal laboratory where theories are tested, where consequences play out.

Take a look at some behind the scenes footage of rehearsals here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8EUpSuANkk&noredirect=1

Performances are on from August 17-25th. Please contact Restless on 8212 8495 for bookings

Tutti is excited to announce a Networking Event being organised by our community partner, the Australian Institute of Management SA.

Management - getting the balance between profit and corporate citizenship right

Presenter Leigh McClusky, one of South Australia's most experienced and respected media personalities, will interview Carolyn Hewson, financier and non-executive Director of BHP Billiton, Stockland Corporation and BT Investment Management, as well as Chair of the Westpac Foundation.

Our own Hot Tutti will provide the entertainment for the evening.

This event will take place on Thursday September 6th, 5.30 - 7.30pm at AIM SA, 180 Port Road, Hindmarsh.

Professional and Corporate Members $50, Non members $60.

For bookings please contact AIM SA on 8241 8000

To all parents and artists who attend on Fridays. Please note that Tutti will be closed on Friday August 17th and there will be no program running that day.

We have had a terrific response from our Annual Giving Campaign this year, and from donations in general. We would like to thank the following for their generous support:

(Donations over $2 are tax deductible)

Rev Eric Densley, Marianne Webb, Meredith Lines, Val and Neil, David and Diane Hall, Charlseworth Nuts Pty Ltd, Brian Wheeler, Marian Edwards, Pearl Clymer, Disability Consultancy Services Pty Ltd, Dr Robert Freeman, Jennifer R Stokes, R O'Connell, Kathryn Mitchell, Geraldine Hood, John Drew, Edward Douglas, Judy and John Dally, John Scales, Stephanie Cocks, Kenneth Cocks, Lois Hoeper, Vicki Antic, Heather Southcott, Ray White Plympton, Veronica Aldridge, Ian Hardy, Phil McMahon Real Estate, Maureen Quinlan, Josephine O'Grady, Jane Doyle, F & T Huiznik, Stuart Cumpston, Wendy Purcell, Joan Lee, Li Wang, Oliver Spray Equipment Pty Ltd, Heather and Andrew Jeffery, Helen Haines, Maureen Detmold, Peter Hohol, Scott Hicks, Alison Beare, Geoff Masters, Rotary Club of Holdfast Bay, Retired Teachers Association, Peter Goers, Simon Birmingham, Kiwanis Rostrevor, Zest Cafe Gallery, ACME Fellowship, Lewis Lodge of Brighton, Elizabeth Gray, Pam Langford, Nan Wight, Clare Knox, Wendy Michell.