The potential of a more accessible cultural sector
At The Space, we want to support the creative and cultural sectors create accessible digital content and work in more inclusive, accessible ways.
We convened an Accessibility Working Group with Disabled arts practitioner, curator, consultant and international activist Zoe Partington and Disabled activists, artists and industry professionals. Together, we started to build a picture of the current obstacles, industry needs and the radical potential of a more accessible cultural sector.
To create and drive a change, we need to ask the questions that help us think differently about how we create digital content and challenge assumptions about what culture looks like.
We have produced a number of resources – below – which are also available in accessible formats.
Our resources
Digital Accessibility: Best Practice
We’ve collated some best practice guidelines from existing sources and the contributions of our Accessibility Working Group members. 
Digital Accessibility: It’s time for a cultural shift
Moving towards more inclusive, accessible digital working practices and content creation. 
Our Digital Accessibility Commitments
Our commitments to improving digital accessibility. Accessible formats
It’s time for a cultural shift
We believe inclusivity and creativity should go hand-in-hand and that digital accessibility should be woven into digital content creation.
Almost 16 million people in the UK identify as Deaf, Disabled, or Neurodivergent. This means that one in four of us may experience barriers to accessing arts and culture in our lifetime.
We would argue that change has to be instigated at the top level by arts organisations and funders and there needs to be a strategic and practical shift in how we think to understand the societal bias towards the Non-disabled experience.
Best practice guidelines
In early 2023 we convened an Accessibility Working Group with artists, activists and industry professionals, all committed to improving digital access to the arts.
The group identified a lack of consistent information and a central pool of knowledge as pressing issues. We have pulled together a set of best practice guidelines from existing sources and the invaluable contributions of our Working Group members.
Our commitments – BSL video
The Space’s commitments to digital accessibility.
When we use the term digital accessibility, we are referring to the extent to which everybody, regardless of their physical or neurological experience of the world, can engage with online arts and culture content with the same ease.
Our commitments to improving digital accessibility are rooted in our core values.
