‘Time to Act’is authored by On the Move, and commissioned by the British Council. Spanning 42 countries, it provides the first transnational evidence that lack of knowledge in the mainstream cultural sector is a key barrier preventing disabled artists and arts professionals participating equally in European culture. While the report focuses on performing arts, the findings are equally relevant to museums. Many cultural spaces still lack accessible exhibitions, digital resources, and staff training to support visitors with disabilities. Museums must also bridge these gaps to become more inclusive.
Key findings from Time to Act: how lack of knowledge in the cultural sector creates barriers for disabled artists and audiences include:
- Limited exposure to artists with disabilities: Over half of respondents rated their knowledge of artists with disabilities as poor, and 1 in 6 had not seen any productions by artists with disabilities in two years.
- Low confidence in accessibility: 48% were not confident in the accessibility of artistic programs for disabled artists, and 39% felt the same about access for disabled audiences.
- Digital and physical barriers: Only 19% of surveyed venues had an accessible website, and just 12% had an accessible booking process.
Join a webinar to learn more
To further address the gaps highlighted in the report, Acesso Cultura will host a webinar titled ‘Producing for deaf and disabled artists’ online on 3 March 2025, from 15:00-.0018 PM (CET).
The session, priced at €20, will cover results of the Time to act report, the meaning of accessibility, ableism, Deaf and disabled artists around the world as well as practical considerations: access riders, workspaces, rehearsals, performances, transport, accommodations
