Touch Compass is Aotearoa New Zealand's leading disability-led performing arts organization. Founded in 1997 by Catherine Chappell MNZM, our mission is to serve and support access to the arts for disabled people. We deliver high-quality performances and arts activations, while also offering a range of programs and workshops to foster a stronger resilient arts sector and disability-conscious society.

Our offerings include community classes for youth (tamariki/rangatahi) and adults (pakeke), school programs, and pathways to professional development for disabled artists, practitioners, and non-disabled individuals who wish to engage in the performing arts through creative expression. We are committed to supporting the work of our extraordinary disabled artists and creatives, providing a platform for and sharing their strong creative voice. At Touch Compass, we champion disability equity, recognizing disability as a positive and contextual experience.

We honor the aesthetics of disability as a powerful source of creativity and a unique way of navigating the world. We promote diversity and inclusivity, supporting everyone's right to identify themselves and their preferred gender pronouns. Our approach is rooted in integrity and accountability, acknowledging all disabilities, visible and non-visible, and affirming self-identification.

Join us in shifting the narrative and transforming perspectives of disability, disabled artists, and their creativity through artistic expression. Discover the transformative power of the arts with Touch Compass