Under the direction of Leo Schofield, the Paralympic Arts Festival, 'Invincible Summer', featured in Sydney from 13 to 29 September 2000, celebrating 'diversity without barriers' and augmenting the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. (The festival title was inspired by 'L'Ete', a novel by French writer, Albert Camus: "In the depths of winter I finally found that I had an invincible summer".) With a program of around 25 different events, the festival gave rise to a range of promotional material that included a media folder, fliers, booklets, invitations, postcards, posters and programs. A selection of this ephemera now figures in the Sydney 2000 Games Collection, and represents the breadth of festival performances and exhibitions. The work of Australian artist, Reg Mombassa, appeared both in the festival exhibition, 'One Heart', and on many of these promotional items.

Arriving at less than AUD$1 million, the budget for Invincible Summer was particularly limited and its paucity influenced many strategies for both marketing and programming. Series of free posters, postcards and production-specific fliers were distributed to theatres, cafes and arts organisations to ensure that events were promoted widely though at a limited expense. In addition, 300 Festival Media Information Kits were sent to national and international media from July to October 2000, while a festival launch on 19 July attracted substantial media attention (2001/84/1/11 is an example of the media kits). The effectiveness of this material lay largely in the strength of the festival program.

Invincible Summer hosted collaborative work between artists with and without disabilities, and featured comedy, dance, film, art, music, theatre and street performance. Much of this entertainment was held at Sydney Olympic Park and at sites around the city (admission to Sydney Olympic Park ranged from $8 to $15 per day). However, key venues, like the Opera House, also hosted series of shows. Events focused largely on visual, tactile and audible art that engaged audiences with or without disabilities - sign language and audio material were common elements of most shows.

Series of free posters, postcards and production-specific fliers were designed to promote 'Invincible Summer' though at a limited expense. The work of Australian artist, Reg Mombassa, appeared both in the festival exhibition, 'One Heart', and on many of these promotional items.

This collection of mostly paper-based items ranges in manufacture and style. The majority of this material was printed on gloss paper in mid 2000.

Series of free posters, postcards and production-specific fliers were distributed to theatres, cafes and arts organisations to promote 'Invincible Summer' at a limited expense. In addition, 300 Festival Media Information Kits were sent to national and international media from July to October 2000, while a festival launch on 19 July attracted substantial media attention

Made for and owned by the Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee and donated to the Powerhouse Museum after the Games.

Ephemera, including a media folder, fliers, booklets, invitations, postcards, posters and programs, paper, made to advertise 'Invincible Summer', arts festival for the Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee, 2000

Ephemera, collection of 13 pieces of Paralympic Arts Festival ephemera, gloss paper and plastic. The ephemeron includes postcards, booklets, an invitation, flyers, an information folder, program and posters. The poster, program and information folder feature an artwork by Reg Mombassa.

Made: 2000

2001/84/543

2000