International examples of access to the arts
This page provides links to articles about international arts and community development, and accessible arts practice.
Accessibility in practice
Accessibility in the arts: a promise and a practice
This guide is focused on the capacity of small-scale arts organisations to meet the needs of disabled communities. It details ways that disabled people are excluded from cultural spaces and offers possible solutions to those barriers. This 36-page guide to accessibility, published in the US, says that sometimes organisations list access information in the “About” or “Info” section of their websites instead of featuring it prominently on the homepage. “The only thing more inaccessible than an inaccessible space is not providing information about how the space is structured.” Read more
Festivals
Access and inclusion at the Melbourne Fringe
Melbourne Fringe is committed to access and inclusion for all people. It runs a range of programmes and initiatives aimed at reducing barriers and supporting artists to deliver accessible events. Read more
Performance
How relaxed performances allow more participation
A Canadian article gives varied examples of how relaxed performances are making its theatre scene more accessible for people with disabilities so they can participate in ways they previously weren't able to and explains why this is so important and should be applied to the performing arts worldwide. Read more
Theatres changing the world
Ramps on the Moon wants to change the world. It’s a consortium of six UK regional theatres and disabled-led Graeae Theatre Company, set up to increase opportunities for Deaf and disabled people as performers and audiences. This film explores the journey of institutional change happening as a result of the initiative. Watch the audio described film on YouTube
Museums
Accessible Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is fully accessible, with a wide range of programmes for disabled people, their friends and families. It has wheelchair access, and elevators and escalators throughout the building. For Deaf and partially Deaf people there are regular talks and lectures with FM-assisted listening devices as well as Real-Time captioning by request and Sign Language or sign language-interpreted gallery talks. For blind and partially sighted people, there are guided touch tours and a touch collection where visitors can touch sculpture and other objects, and verbal imaging tours where the guide describes works of art in detail. Read about these and other examples of its accessible practice and programmes