Hello - this is my first message to the list though I have been a member for
some time. I am one of Calderdale MBC's two Disability Arts Officers (though
we jobshare so saying there's two is a bit of a cheat), delivering a
programme designed to increase access to the arts.
We take access in its broadest sense - from developing a full disability
arts programme where the content is by, with and for people with
disabilities to access to the mainstream programming. Fundamental to this is
venue development. Our division manages a range of arts venues (museums, art
galleries, theatre, cinema) and local civic halls and advises non-council
venues on arts programming.
We're in the process of carrying out access audits on all our venues and
have run into the age-old issue of Listed building status versus imaginative
and innovative solutions. While consultants have come up with innovative
proposals that address a whole range of access issues - covering all kinds
of disabilities, intellectual and physical access, information and
communications issues and so on - these have sometimes been too shocking for
planning and we then run into funders who resist material alterations to
Listed buildings. And, as many of us will know, you can't bite the hand that
feeds you.
No matter that Part III of the DDA is quite clear in terms of the equality
of opportunity that must be offered, there has yet to be any clear
indications of how this legislation will operate with or against Listed
building status: in law, by 2004 we must have made the necessary
adjustments.
And how will these far-reaching, often capital alterations be funded? At the
end of the day, even local councils can't afford to spend their entire
budget (and more) to improve access to their own buildings which, given the
fact it's a public body in place to serve and be accountable to its public,
should be open and accessible to that public. So from which bottomless
pockets will these alterations be funded?
Cheers,
Claire Pickard
Disability Arts Officer, Calderdale MBC
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