Founded by ‘Inclusive Employers’, National Inclusion Week takes place from 25th September to 1st October 2023, and this year the theme is ‘Take Action Make Impact’, so DaDa have been thinking about what we already do and what else we may be able to do to take action and make an impact for inclusion within the arts.
As a Deaf and disability arts charity, inclusion is at the centre of everything DaDa does and is something we strive to continue to develop and build upon. Through our work we create paid opportunities for Deaf and disabled artists. So, this National Inclusion Week we thought we would reflect on some of the measures we have put in place to make our practice inclusive so far.
Our given examples aren’t exhaustive, but we hope that in sharing some of these, it may spark ideas for other organisations. We are of course always open to learning and finding out about additional measures we may be missing, so we hope that you will share with us if you have any suggestions.
We interviewed our Access and Support Coordinator Denise Kennedy to explore the topic.
Creating opportunities for Deaf and disabled artists
What does DaDa do to build an inclusive environment for artists in relation to the way we put together call outs and invite responses?
From design of our call outs to how we push them out, we are always looking at how to create inclusive access for any opportunity. Some examples of this include:
- The Producer/manager leading on the project call out will initially build reader-friendly text describing the opportunity.
- Myself and our comms staff will check we are using inclusive language.
- As Access and Support Coordinator I arrange accessible versions of the call out, for instance recording of a BSL version and audio file.
- Our comms team will place the call out on our website, along with alternative versions: BSL, audio, inviting artists to let us know if another format would be helpful.
- When promoting on social media, or the website, we ensure we are using ALT text to describe any images, and link back to the additional accessible versions of the information.
- We keep the information concise with clear specifications and instructions around timeline etc.
- We push the opportunity out in a variety of ways to reach the widest audience including:
- Via social media and alerting other organisations who work with Deaf and disabled artists so they can share with their networks
- Emailing the opportunity to anyone subscribed to our newsletter and contacts within our network who can help us to reach a diverse audience
- Adding clear detail to our website
- We allow people to respond to call outs in a variety of ways so they can select the option that best suits their needs, for example via email, audio recording, film, textphone, whatsapp, via the artist’s support worker, etc.
- We invite artists to contact us if they have any other access needs or wish us to consider anything in particular.
Working with Deaf and disabled artists in the run up to events
DaDa mostly works with developing artists, artists who are developing their process and who sometimes haven’t worked in the arts much before (if at all). While we are working with them in the run up to an event, performance, exhibition or through our ongoing projects, we strive to keep their experience inclusive by doing things like:
- Preparing by reading an artist’s Access Rider or, if they don’t have one, helping them build one if they are wanting to. (more on this here https://www.dadafest.co.uk/blog/article/access-riders )
- Making sure that any access needs are considered before putting anything in place.
- Helping and supporting them find the people and services they require if they are putting on a production or exhibition.
- Booking any access required as part of any meetings, rehearsal, preparation, and/or performance/exhibition. This could be BSL interpretation for meetings with Deaf artists, audience, integration within a production, and/or audio description for the production.
- Helping find people that are experienced working with artists who are Deaf, disabled, and/or neurodivergent. For example, one of our artists was neurodivergent and struggled with working to deadlines so we helped them set a calendar with deadlines. We also found a director who had experience of working with neurodivergent artists to work alongside them and DaDa kept checking in with the artist to make sure they were coping with the timelines/calendar set and agreed.
- Sometimes pairing the artist up with a writer who can help them work on their script, for example, an artist was helped with identifying, defining, then adding stage and technical directions, to the draft of their script.
- Making sure that any outside venue being used has an understanding of the artist’s needs. For example, making sure that the lighting states aren’t likely to trigger an artist’s condition (based on their communicated access needs).
This list is not exhaustive but offering some examples based on my time with DaDa.
Creating inclusive art events and experiences
A lot of our work culminates in an event or performance, and we are mindful of ensuring that these are developed both taking into account the access needs of our artists and creating an inclusive space for audiences. Some examples of how we do that include:
- Setting up a quiet space away from main the performance area: providing things like distraction gadgets, comfy flooring/bean bags, ear defenders, etc. For example, for one of our DaDa Ensemble performances, our young musicians were in two performance groups. While one group was playing the other was seated on the jigsaw flooring and bean bags, making sure there was enough room in front of the static audience seating for those in wheelchairs or for those who wished to transfer from their wheelchair onto that seating.
- Providing BSL interpretation for Deaf members of our audience who require BSL, either to the side or integrated into the performance.
- Providing audio description either live feeding into headphones available for audience members or written into the script/performance during rehearsal.
- When publicising events we take similar steps indicated in our call outs, for instance ensuring we keep our text and colour palette user-friendly, using ALT text over images, captioning??, or BSL if we use video.
National Inclusion Week: What next?
We recognise everyone is different and to create a truly inclusive organisation we need to always be listening and learning, and sharing ideas and experiences where we can.
If you are working in an artistic organisation and wanting to better understand how to improve access and inclusion in your working environment or practice, DaDa may be able to offer consultancy support, so do reach out to us to find out how we may be able to work together.
And if you have worked with DaDa or are reading this and thinking we are potentially missing opportunities to make the work we do more inclusive, please do send us your thoughts. We would love to hear from you.
And finally, do sign up to our newsletter if you are interested in keeping in touch with opportunities we may have for artists in the future.