Accessibility to the Scenic Arts

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/accessibility-scenic-arts

Introduction

### Course Review: Accessibility to the Scenic Arts In an era where inclusivity is becoming increasingly important across all sectors, the Coursera course titled **"Accessibility to the Scenic Arts"** stands out as an essential program for anyone involved in the production or management of arts and cultural events. This course takes a deep dive into the multifaceted concept of accessibility, moving beyond the common misconceptions that primarily focus on physical access, such as wheelchair ramps and accessible seating arrangements. #### Course Overview **"Is your show accessible?"** is the core question that guides participants through this comprehensive online learning experience. The course aims to equip learners with the knowledge and skills they need to ensure that arts events are inclusive for all audiences, including those with various disabilities. It challenges and expands the existing notions surrounding accessibility, emphasizing its importance in both the arts and entertainment sectors. #### Syllabus Breakdown The course syllabus is thoughtfully structured into several key units, each tackling vital aspects of accessibility in the scenic arts: 1. **Introduction**: Provides a foundational understanding of the course and sets the stage for deeper discussions on accessibility. 2. **General Introduction to Inclusion**: Participants explore different audiences and their specific support needs while also covering critical definitions of inclusion and legislation related to accessibility. This unit serves as a crucial starting point for understanding the diverse landscape of audiences and legal frameworks involved. 3. **Venue Accessibility**: This comprehensive unit highlights the tangible barriers present in cultural venues, offering practical strategies for improvement. It introduces concepts like the “accessibility chain” and the FFZ (Friend, Family, and Zoning) principle, ensuring that participants understand how to make cultural spaces welcoming to everyone, including details on wayfinding and assistance animals. 4. **Access Services - Concepts**: Building on previous units, this segment lays out the essential elements of access services, preparing learners to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios. 5. **Implementing Access Facilities at Arts Events**: This practical unit emphasizes the critical steps required to integrate access facilities before, during, and after an event. Participants will learn how to ensure that every aspect of an event is conducive to a fully inclusive experience. 6. **Communication and Dissemination**: Accessibility is not just about physical spaces but also about effective communication. This unit stresses the importance of promoting accessibility initiatives to stakeholders through various media platforms. Crafting an accessibility policy is also covered, ensuring that students can enact change within their organizations. 7. **Management**: This concluding segment teaches participants how to manage accessibility protocols within cultural events. From planning and feedback gathering to conflict resolution and team management, this module delves into the nuances of making accessibility a sustained priority. 8. **Final Assessment & Debriefing**: The course culminates in an assessment that allows participants to apply all the knowledge they've gained, along with a debriefing session for reflection and discussion. #### Why You Should Take This Course Whether you are a cultural manager, event planner, artist, or simply someone passionate about inclusion in the arts, this course provides invaluable insights and practical strategies for implementing accessibility. The knowledge gained here not only ensures compliance with legal requirements but also enriches the overall audience experience by recognizing and celebrating diverse forms of expression and participation. Moreover, this course empowers participants to become advocates for change in their organizations and communities. As the arts have a profound impact on society, understanding how to make them accessible helps foster a richer cultural landscape where everyone can participate fully. #### Conclusion In conclusion, **"Accessibility to the Scenic Arts"** is a highly recommended course for anyone who seeks to make a difference in the arts sector. The well-structured curriculum, practical applications, and emphasis on real-world scenarios make it an essential learning experience. By enrolling in this course, you’re not just gaining knowledge; you are committing to a vision of art that is inclusive, equitable, and transformative. Take the plunge into making arts more accessible and ensure that every show reaches every eye and ear.

Syllabus

INTRODUCTION

GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO INCLUSION

In this unit the participants learn about three essential concepts: First they will learn more about the different audiences at which accessibility may be aimed and the different types of access support they might need. Second, the concepts of ‘inclusion’ and ‘accessibility’ will be introduced and, more in particular, they will learn how these can be defined. Finally, this unit looks at legislation on inclusion and accessibility. More in particular, the participants will learn about the various types of international and European legislation on inclusion and accessibility.

VENUE ACCESSIBILITY

Unit 3 “Venue Accessibility” addresses barriers to access to cultural venues and how to remove them. Buildings such as theatres or opera houses or open-air venues used for festival purposes should be as accessible as possible. Based on a distinction between different venue types, this unit covers the accessibility chain, the FFZ principle, the accessibility of indoor and outdoor locations as well as temporary locations. Furthermore, it addresses forms of wayfinding, signs, maps and accessibility information as well as adaptations of the venue and assistance animals. Finally, it provides recommendations for assessing and improving venue accessibility.

ACCESS SERVICES - CONCEPTS

IMPLEMENTING ACCESS FACILITIES AT ARTS EVENTS TO ENSURE INCLUSION FOR ALL

This unit is about putting the knowledge about the access facilities presented in Unit 3a into practice, and covers the general and specific practical steps involved in implementing the access facilities in advance of the event, on the day of the event and after the event.

COMMUNICATION AND DISSEMINATION

In this unit you will learn about communicating and promoting accessibility, some may say “accessibility PR”. More in particular, you will learn to identify the relevant stakeholders and suggest strategies to involve them. You will learn what an accessibility policy for a cultural event or venue is and how to implement it. You will learn how to promote accessibility for a cultural event or venue, using both traditional and online media in an accessible way.

MANAGEMENT

In this unit, the participants learn about managing accessibility in a cultural venue or on a cultural event. They learn to plan and coordinate, they learn to communicate about accessibility and gather user feedback to be able to look into some aftercare. While managing these things they also think about solving conflicts and managing a team of coworkers. In the different learning materials of which the unit is composed, the participant is presented with charts to help managing the accessibility and with tips and tricks to do so via reading materials and video lessons.

Final Assessment & Debriefing