ACE sets out digital database plan to improve access

Efforts to make it easier for disabled, D/deaf and neurodivergent people to access cultural events will centre around a joined-up digital scheme that can be used by audiences, venues, and ticketing companies, Arts Council England (ACE) has revealed.

The organisation says the digital membership scheme will allow members to sign up and provide details of their access needs just the once, without having to repeat themselves each time they visit a new venue.
 
Alongside this a membership database will be designed to integrate with ticketing companies' booking systems. It will allow members to automatically apply their access needs at the point of booking, arrange companion tickets, and sort out accessible seating.  

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There will also be a dedicated website with interactive listings of accessible spaces, events, and performances as well as support to help the sector create more inclusive environments.

It is intended that the scheme, which has been developed alongside Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the BFI, will be launched UK-wide.

Details of the new initiative come two months after ACE confirmed that plans to pilot an arts access card, intended to offer “seamless, barrier-free booking” to all arts and cultural venues, had been rescheduled for 2024.

Joined-up approach

Abid Hussain, ACE's Director of Diversity, says there are currently lots of great schemes across the UK tackling issues around accessibility. He cites the Hynt card, an initiative from Arts Council of Wales, that provides a consistent offering to its cardholders at venues in Wales that have signed up to the scheme. 

Hynt, which launched in 2015, is currently funded by Arts Council of Wales and through the membership fees of its participating venues. The card is free of charge for people with access requirements.

"Among other things [Hynt] allows those signed-up to get a free companion ticket, but there is scope for schemes like this to improve access in many more ways and so reach a wider audience," he says.

"Many creative and cultural venues currently also run their own access schemes. This creates a patchwork of services across the UK which cries out for a more joined up approach."

The plans have been developed with input from D/deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent people, professionals in the creative and cultural sector, as well as ticketing software providers.

Besides the database system, a knowledge hub of training, resources, and guidance for creative and cultural organisations to support them in developing a more inclusive experience for disabled visitors , will be established.
 
A set of best-practice standards for the creativity and culture sector relating to digital access, events and programming, and customer service will also be developed.

Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said: “It is no secret that more can be done to enable D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent audiences to have equal access to creative and cultural events in the UK. 

"The hope is that this scheme can remove barriers to engagement, improve access to the wealth of creativity within our country, and take the next step to achieve greater fairness across the creative and cultural sector.”

A consultation on the plans, taking the form of an online survey, will be open until 30 November.