Dublin Access Partnership
The aim of ADI’s Access Partnership initiative is to embed a more holistic approach to accessible arts programming for audiences with disabilities.
What is the Access Partnership?
The Dublin Access Partnership is a local knowledge network that will foster awareness, education and share resources to improve accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities to the arts in Dublin.
The aim of ADI’s Access Partnership initiative is to embed a more holistic approach to accessible arts programming for audiences with disabilities.
The Access Partnership with ADI’s support, can share knowledge and resources to build a city-wide programme of accessible performances, exhibitions, screenings and events for audiences with disabilities.
The partnership will also identify supports required such as:
- targeted training
- seminars
- access audits
- website testing
- guidance
- action planning
- the development of user groups.
Who?
The Access Partnership will comprise theatres, arts venues, galleries, museums and festivals in Dublin City.
As a member of the Access Partnership what is involved?
- Attend Dublin Access Partnership Meetings
- Commit to delivering accessible programme at your theatre, art venue, gallery, museum or festival. (An access budget)
- Identify supports required such as targeted training, seminars, access audits, website testing, guidance, action planning and development of user groups.
- Contribute to the development of a shared calendar of accessible programme.
What if my organisation is interested in access but cannot commit to the Access Partnership at the moment?
There is still opportunity to be involved. Supports such as training, seminars and workshops will be open to the wider arts and culture sector to attend.
ADI is working towards a LEAD conference with the Kennedy Center in 2020. There is time to have conversations within your organisation and plant seeds about access.
Recent Dublin Access Partnership Online Events:
Arts & Disability Ireland presents Access into Action, a webinar series developed to support Irish arts and culture professionals to create accessible content and experiences for audiences with disabilities.
Access into Action provides practical knowledge that can be put into immediate action. Each webinar provides a brief context, explores why an aspect of access is important, discusses the benefit for audiences, shares practical know-how and closes with a facilitated Q&A to ensure participants get the most out of each session.
- Subtitling Online Content, presented by Oli Webster, Programme Systems Manager at Stagetext, Tuesday 14th July at 11am. Now available to view here.
- Writing Accessible Introductions, presented by Roz Chalmers, a member of the resident team of describers in London’s National Theatre, The Old Vic Theatre, Chickenshed and the Park Theatre, Tuesday 28th July at 11am. Now available to view here.
Find out more about this series here.
Past Dublin Access Partnership Events:
- Kick off meeting, Thursday 30th August 2018 at Project Arts Centre, Dublin 2
- Partners in Progress: The Access Seminar – A series of talks and workshops at Project Arts Centre, Friday 23rd November 2018, 11am – 3pm
- Relaxed Performances and Inclusive Exhibition: Access for People on the Autism Spectrum and their families at IFI, Tuesday 5th March 2019, 10.30am – 12.45pm
- From Access to Inclusion Summit and Disability Equality Training (DET) introduction session, Friday 7th February 2020, 10am – 12noon.
2023
Arts & Disability Ireland built on this series in 2023 with further webinars aiming to support Irish arts and culture professionals interested in creating accessible content and experiences for audiences with disabilities.
The ‘Why’ and ‘How’ of Accessibility in Cultural Contexts – 18th April 2023.
This introductory webinar on the ‘Why’ and ‘How’ of Accessibility in Cultural Contexts gave an overview of the legal and regulatory obligations that apply to arts centres, galleries, museums, festivals and night-time economy venues when implementing accessibility for people with disabilities.
Our panel of four presenters shared their expertise on practical approaches to minimising barriers to access. This included presentations on the built environment surrounding cultural spaces, designing accessible websites and organisational access auditing in terms of facilities, programme and services, all set in the context of Irish disability, equality and human rights legislation.
Speakers included:
- Léa Urzel Francil, PhD researcher, ERC Project DANCING, Dept of Law & Criminology, NUI Maynooth.
- Dr. Gerald Craddock, Chief Officer, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, National Disability Authority.
- Eoin O’Herlihy, Managing Director, O’Herlihy Access Consultancy.
- Dr. Donal Fitzpatrick, Senior ICT Design Advisor, Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, National Disability Authority.
A recording of this webinar can be found here.
Access Technology for Audio Description & Captioning: Supporting an Accessible Arts Programme – 27th June 2023.
Access technology can provide numerous ways for audiences with disabilities to engage with a performance or exhibition. There are a variety of ways to do this which can impact on programming decisions and budgets. In this webinar, we looked at three key types of access technology used to provide audio description and captioning for audiences with disabilities. Each panellist spoke about their area of expertise, current processes in that area and advancements in technology.
Speakers included:
- Tim Brown of Apple Sound Ltd. spoke bout audio description for theatre, galleries and museums.
- Oran McAllister of NaviLens who spoke about NaviLens code and how it can impact on engagement of exhibitions and buildings.
- Roger Beaumont of Digital 4 who spoke about captioning for theatre.
A recording of this webinar can be found here.
Each webinar has open captions provided by Stagetext.
fostering awareness, education and sharing resources to improve accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities to the arts
