Disabled artists and audiences are set to benefit from new investment to make creative and cultural venues in West Yorkshire more accessible.
The initiative is part of the £2.3 million ‘You Can Make It Here’ programme, launched by the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, to support and grow the region’s creative sector.
Eight organisations have been awarded a share of £60,000 through the accessibility strand of the programme, run by Wakefield-based disabled-led organisation, We Are Unlimited.
Helping to boost economic growth by broadening the sector’s reach and activity, the investment will allow venues and event providers to improve and install facilities such as AI captioning technology, live streaming tools, ramps and rails, with one of the projects set to purchase wheelchair accessible pottery wheels and equipment.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “We’ve got a world-class cultural offer here in West Yorkshire, and I want everyone to have the chance to experience it.
“The investment we’re announcing today will make a real difference for people with disabilities, as well as for our venues who will be able to welcome more artists and audiences.
“This is just the start of our ‘You Can Make It Here’ support scheme, which will help us to grow our creative sector and build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.”
The need for this investment was clear, with the available fund oversubscribed by 790% – 63 creative and cultural venues across the region applied to make almost £474,000 worth of improvements.
The eight successful projects were selected by a panel of disabled creative professionals from all five West Yorkshire districts, who used their own experiences to determine which improvements would have the greatest impact for disabled artists and audiences.
One of the panellists commented: “A real highlight for me has been witnessing the collective ambition for a more accessible cultural scene across West Yorkshire.
“One person may have submitted an application, but several contributed, numerous residents’ opinions were featured, accessibility professionals were consulted and the feedback from those with lived experience is being acted upon.
“I feel hopeful that with this community commitment for change, the future impact of improved access will be even larger.”
The capital grants have been awarded as part of a £150,000 scheme, which includes accessibility training, support and guidance to help cultural organisations learn the basics of disability equality, and how to better support people with disabilities.
Further ‘You Can Make It Here’ initiatives in the pipeline include opportunities for young people to boost their skills and progress into creative roles, while businesses and freelancers will benefit from investment, export advice and training to unleash their potential.
The eight projects to receive capital grants through the ‘You Can Make It Here’ accessibility scheme are:
- Castles in the Sky in Bradford – £7,100 to add rails, improved ramps and furniture to their venue, as well as buying air purifiers, live streaming tools and mobile equipment for off-site events, including audio description headsets, ear defenders and fidget toys.
- Marsden Community Trust in Kirklees – £2515.87 to install an automatic door opener and purchase 3 portable hearing loop systems for their community-run building.
- Music and Arts Production Leeds (MAP Charity) in Leeds – £10,000 for a new, permanent ramp as well as accessible, gender-neutral toilets to prepare their building to welcome the public to events and workshops.
- Pavilion in Leeds – £2,018 to invest in AI captioning technology, a microphone, webcam and screen for regular, online open-access forum meetings that host West Yorkshire artists at all stages of their careers.
- The Art House in Wakefield – £8,906 to invest in two electronic, automated single doors to improve independent access for a range of disabled artists and audience members who have expressed the need.
- The Arvon Foundation in Calderdale – £7,700 to install an accessible toilet in their new, remodelled writing barn; a flexible, creative community hub, enabling Arvon to deliver a programme of events designed for and with the local community.
- The Clay Mill in Kirklees – £9,800 to purchase wheelchair accessible pottery wheels and equipment, as well as creating a quiet space with silent wheel and clear signage.
- Transform Festival in Leeds – £10,000 to purchase captioning equipment for Transform’s biennial international festivals which will be shared via an access-focussed resource-sharing network for artists and organisations in West Yorkshire.
