Consultancy
"Captured our brief perfectly, a really great experience" Jen Smith, Head of Diversity, BFI
As public services in the UK are under threat, so too are public spaces; the spaces where anyone can go, feel welcome, meet others and spend time.
Galleries, museums, cinemas, art centres, theatres and libraries should be leading the way on inclusion and access to support a healthy thriving community and culture.
We want to help this to be the case.
Need a bespoke consultancy for your venue or organisation? We have over 30 years’ experience of working with funders, local authorities, venues, schools and colleges, arts companies and cinemas to help you make the creative case for diversity. Call us!
How we can help
Customer Service Training
A hands-on, interactive session for front of house, box office, marketing and programming personnel.
We’ll provide practical advice on simple adaptations and customer service tips to ensure learning disabled audience members feel at ease and supported in your venue.
We can help you to research, reach and retain a local learning disabled audience.
“It has made me think differently about how people will experience the BFI. Really good session, especially the group of trainers who made it relaxed and informal.”
— BFI Southbank Staff Member
Venue Walkthrough Video
Help people with learning disabilities, autism and additional needs feel more confident to come to your venue with a high quality venue walk-through video [see example].
This important access tool will highlight the supportive, welcoming environment at your venue and give audiences an insight into what to expect when they arrive.
Secret Shopper Venue Audit
How does a learning disabled visitor experience your venue? Understand the needs and issues of audiences with a Secret Shopper Audit.
We support a learning disabled artist to choose from your programme and undertake the full ticket to seat process.
Full written report supplied.
“I felt like I learned so much, a lot to think about and brought accessibility to the front of my mind. “
-Phoenix Arts Centre Staff member
Creative Minds, the national arts and learning disability network
Creative Minds is currently undergoing a major review. Since 2012 it has operated as an informal sector support network running five sold-out national conferences and regional hubs throughout England. During lockdown it successfully moved online keeping conversations, news and skill-sharing going, opening up greater opportunities for national conversations.
“[the network] enables us to link with regional initiatives, gain a much broader understanding of current issues and to play our part in ensuring that the voices of Learning Disability Arts organisations and artists are represented within contemporary cultural debates.” Sue Caudle, Director DIY Theatre
We continue to send out a regular newsletter and have launched a new project called The Artist’s Room where learning disabled artists and performers set the agenda and share their thoughts (using words, videos, pictures etc.) without intervention of nondisabled supporters. The Artist’s Room is chaired by Karen Flood MBE (a learning disabled activist who has been involved in Creative Minds as an evaluator, co-chair and team member). Thanks to Paul Christian from Access All Areas for the original ideas for the Artists’ Room.
There are currently 52 of the leading learning disability arts companies in the network. Once the review is complete and the future structure of Creative Minds becomes clear, we will be inviting new companies to join us.
Creative Minds is coordinated nationally by Carousel as one of its major strategic programmes.
“There’s never been a more important time…for there to be a collective voice for the learning disability arts sector and for that voice to be heard as distinct from others." Richard Hayhow, Director of Open Theatre
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