“Making outdoor events accessible for deaf and disabled audiences”: A workshop by Attitude is Everything

As Garage continues to carry out events for professional communities aiming at an ongoing collaboration with people with disabilities, the Museum announces a one-day immersion workshop delivered by Gideon Feldman, the Head of Programs at Attitude is Everything­, Britain’s leading charity organization providing access for people with disabilities to music concerts and other cultural events.

Attitude is Everything­ are internationally recognized as experts in live music and outdoor event accessibility, having worked directly with over 200 venues and festivals across the UK via their Charter of Best Practice program and delivered access consultancy for major venues and events including Glastonbury Festival.

The workshop will cover:

— an introduction to the work and ethos of Attitude is Everything;

— group discussion on the barriers attendees and organizers of cultural events can face;

— Attitude is Everything’s Access Starts Online resource, and why quality online access information is an essential component of live event accessibility;

— the Charter of Best Practice program for venues and festivals, and examples of cutting-edge practice from the UK.

Goals and expected outcomes:

— analyzing the work of concert and festival venues in the UK using concrete examples, and how similar principles can be transferred to other countries;

— establishing a working communication with audiences with disabilities and implementing the acquired knowledge in the future;

— developing draft accessibility action plans inspired by the Charter to take away for your own events;

— sharing ideas and what you are doing to make your events accessible for deaf and disabled audiences.

“Making outdoor events accessible for deaf and disabled audiences”: A workshop by Attitude is Everything is part of the UK - Russia Year of Music 2019, a programme which celebrates the UK and Russia’s rich musical cultures and our profound respect for each other’s musical traditions and achievements. The UK-Russia Year of Music programme is conducted by the British Embassy in Moscow with the support of the British Council.

Gideon Feldman is the Head of Programs at Attitude is Everything, a charity supporting the music and events industries to be inclusive and accessible for deaf and disabled customers, performers and employees. With a background in Production and Tour Management for disability arts companies including Graeae and CandoCo and experience of working with large-scale festivals and multi-sport events, he has an understanding of what can be achieved and how to influence change from an event-specific point of view. Since 2011, Gideon has been working for Attitude is Everything, leading the delivery of the Charter of Best Practice and developing the charities consultancy work. The Charter is now firmly established within the live music industry as a tool to examine all aspects of making a venue or festival accessible and inclusive. Over 190 venues and festivals across the UK have now been signed up to the Charter. Consultancy work has been undertaken with a wide variety of clients including Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Norske festivaler and Norske konsertarrangører, Festival Republic, The BBC, Colston Hall, HM Government of Gibraltar, Glastonbury, and Sound Connections among others.

This workshop is aimed at producers of music, theater and urban festivals, curators working for music venues and concerts halls, museum workers interested in various issues dealing with the promotion of inclusion, and event managers and producers who wish to broaden their audiences and organize an event.

Admission free, please apply before 6 pm on September 22, 2019

Selection will be based on the application submitted.

Results will be announced on September 24.

The workshop’s main block and practical sessions will run in English. If necessary, Garage will provide interpreters to Russian and Russian Sign Language.