Creating Inclusive Hybrid Spaces
Online workshop exploring how to create more accessible and inclusive 'hybrid' experiences where people can connect virtually and physically
With Diverse City, Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists, and Access All Areas.
About:
In this workshop, we explored some of the tools and methods we’ve used to come together through the pandemic.
We looked at these tools through the lens of inclusivity and accessibility, and considered what gaps and provocations we would like to take forwards into our creative work.
We imagined what the most inclusive hybrid making/sharing space could be.
Together, we all agreed that accessibility should be integrated and enrich the experience rather than being an afterthought, and access features should be adaptable as people’s needs may change. Online experiences should include regular breaks to be away from screens, like physical tasks to do or even just one minute to look out of a window! Seating should also be flexible, including space to be horizontal.
Watch the talks below…
“The internet and the virtual world was accessible in lots of ways, yet in so many other ways it was so inaccessible. [Moving online during the pandemic] highlighted a lot of inequality and a lot of access issues”
John kelly
Facilitated by John Kelly from Diverse City. Guest presentations from Helen Bryer and Adam Smith from Access All Areas, plus Eilis Bevan-Davies from Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists.
We further explored our ideal accessible spaces in Building a Multi-Sensory Utopia.
Diverse City is a performing arts company where social justice and culture meet.
For the arts to fairly reflect and shape society, they believe all voices must be heard and all audiences welcomed.
They do this by making and touring new shows, nurturing new creative voices and engaging communities in artistic activism.
Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists is a flagship training performing arts company for disabled and non-disabled 16 to 30-year-olds.
They create ambitious, experimental and thought-provoking work, which they perform across the UK.
Access All Areas make disruptive theatre and performance by learning disabled and autistic artists.
Their interactive performance events create intimate moments of interaction between performers and public, occupying unexpected spaces in venues, on the streets, and in public buildings.
John Kelly is a Disability and Human Rights Campaigner and a self-taught musician and singer/songwriter.
They are also a youth worker and a qualified facilitator who works with many different organisations to develop creative & inclusive practice. They were also Creative Access Critical Friend for Come Together.
Helen Bryer, of Access All Areas is the Director of Take Part and Train.
Helen is the course leader of the Performance Making Diploma for learning disabled and autistic artists.
She is also the Director of Take Part and Train at theatre company Access All Areas, leading on the company’s participatory and community work with adults with learning disabilities and autism.
Adam Smith is a musician, composer, actor, cabaret artist and facilitator.
He is an Access All Areas Associate Artist and a founding member of ‘crip-punk cabaret’ collective Not Your Circus Dog.
Adam is the trainee Co-Director of Take Part and has run dozens of workshops online and in person including during Covid-19 lockdowns, for Access All Areas.
Eilís Bevan-Davis is a facilitator, director and theatre maker.
She is an inclusive movement specialist bringing together people of all abilities to participate in creative processes.
She combines theatre with her extensive knowledge in creative support and is focused on developing theatre-training practice for young people with access needs. Eilís is the Artistic Director of Diverse City’s youth company, Extraordinary Bodies Young Artists.
