Europe Beyond Access | Disability and Transforming the Cultural Ecosystem Event

Livestreamed online, Europe's largest arts and disability programme Europe Beyond Access presents its final symposium on 26 May 2023.

• What is the current cultural landscape for European artists, arts professionals and audiences with disabilities in 2023?
• What recent advances have been made on a national and European basis?
• How can all cultural professionals, arts organisations, national institutions, and cultural policymakers play a part in transforming the cultural ecosystem in the years to come?

These questions and more to be answered through contributions from Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, from European cultural networks, national Arts Councils & Ministries of Culture, and from leading disabled artists including Demy Papathanasiou (GR) and Aristide Rontini (IT).

Confirmed panels include:

“How Policymakers in Europe can lead the way in Cultural Accessibility”

In the 5 years of the Europe Beyond Access project there have been many positive changes at regional, national and transnational levels. But not all change has been positive, and the journey towards cultural equity is desperately slow. These questions and more will be discussed:

• “What commitment to disability equity lies in the power of cultural policymakers?”
• “When should policymakers follow the lead of the cultural sector, and when should they take the initiative?”
• “How can accessible culture be prioritised at a time of financial precarity and political uncertainty?”

"Transforming the Cultural Ecosystem. Case Study: Italy"

This panel will explore how significant changes in opportunities for disabled dance artists in Italy have taken place in the last 5 years. Disabled artists, mainstream cultural institutions, Italian national networks, and national policymakers and funders have all contributed to this transformation.

Panellists will include Donatella Ferrante (former executive manager for the Italian General Directorate for Live Performing Arts), dance artist and co-founder of Al Di Qua artists’ Association Aristide Rontini, and representatives of both Oriente Occidente Dance Festival and Aterballeto - the only National Choreographic Centre in Italy.

The event will also feature a number of short films, focusing on improving allyship with disabled artists and audiences, introducing Italian artist-activist collective Al.Di.Qua, and exploring how policymakers can support the human rights of disabled artists.

Event: 26 May 2023

Register here.