Access Artistry Conversation Series & Learning and Action Resources

About the Access Artistry Conversation Series & Learning and Action Resources

Across the cultural sector of contemporary dance, theater and performance, Executive and Artistic Directors of small to mid-size institutions based in New York City have gathered regularly starting in 2020 to discuss issues around access and disability.  Often disability initiatives are activated in response to a particular grant, only to disappear when funding is no longer available, or dissolve when a key staff member moves on from an organization. With differing entry points for each organization, there is a shared recognition that access measures are not temporary needs:  we must adjust as a field to invest and incorporate accessibility in thoughtful, sustainable ways so that we can more effectively serve our students, audiences, and artists. 

This platform provides a means for collective growth and shared learning across the field. This collection of materials and trainings has been amassed with the goal to help build a more accessible organizational culture within the broader field of contemporary performing arts. We believe that interlocking undertakings formulate a framework for accountability and shared stewardship. Together, we can build momentum  and expertise about disability access and artistry and create sustainable change within the field.

How to Use this Site

The resources on this site have been designed for members of the Conversation Series events, including the Executive and Artistic Directors of the participating organizations and their team members. Because those who appear in the session recordings did not consent to wider dissemination of these materials, please do not share these publicly.

These materials are meant to serve an ongoing commitment to anti-ableism. As a project of political education, this goes further than the checklists, audits, and consultations that usually feature in the compliance-minded approach to disability and access. As such, these materials do not constitute a comprehensive institutional commitment to anti-ableism. Please use and cite these resources as part of a larger, growing framework to prioritize access and disability culture in your work.

• Access Conversations 

• Framing Disability Justice 

• General Guides 

• Marketing & Communications 

• Website Accessibility 

• Presenting & Performing 

• Finances and Funding 

• Education 

The Access Artistry Conversations and Sharing Platform is generously supported by New York Community Trust. 

Participating organizations: