Europe Beyond Access

TIME TO ACT is a unique new study, authored by On the Move and commissioned by the British Council within the context of Europe Beyond Access. The report spans 42 countries, and explores the barriers that disabled people experience when accessing the arts. • How many European programmers are actively seeking work by disabled artists? • What are the barriers stopping mainstream cultural institutions becoming more accessible? • Who do Europe's cultural managers think should be providing guidance and support to help them make their programmes more accessible to disabled arts professionals? These are just some of the questions answered by this important research.

The report is providing the first transnational evidence that lack of knowledge in the mainstream cultural sector is a key barrier preventing disabled artists and arts professionals participating equally in European culture.

The report will be launched on December 3rd, International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

In this 120-minute online Zoom Webinar, the research authors will be in conversation with key European cultural stakeholders - exploring themes, issues and data explored in the report. In addition, a number of Artists, Cultural Managers and Cultural Policymakers will share their responses:

Caroline Bowditch: CEO, Arts Access Victoria (AUS) Jo Verrent: Senior Producer, Unlimited (UK) Barbara Gessler: Leiterin von Creative Europe, Europäische Kommission Geoliane Arab: Internationale Beraterin, ONDA [Office National de Diffusion Artistique] (FR) Maria Vlachou: Geschäftsführende Direktorin, Acesso Cultura (PT) Filip Pawlak: Künstler und Produzent (POL) Sonja Parmentier: Künstlerin, Lehrerin und Aktivistin (NL)

TIME TO ACT is part of the large-scale Arts and Disability project Europe Beyond Access. Co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union, this initiative aims to support disabled artists to break the glass ceilings of the contemporary theatre and dance sectors.

The core partners of the project are British Council (operating for this project in the UK and Poland), Onassis Stegi (Greece), Holland Dance Festival (The Netherlands), Kampnagel (Germany), Per.Art (Serbia), Skånes Dansteater (Sweden), and Oriente Occidente (Italy).