October 10, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Studio 2
How accessible is your venue, really? This interactive workshop, facilitated by Meghan Sivani-Merrigan, founder of Halifax-based Apex Arts Access and creator of the Better Backstages Accessibility Toolkit, provides a framework to help you find out on your own. Attendees will first get a brief overview of the four modules within the comprehensive toolkit, which covers a wide range of topics from physical accessibility to access riders, nightlife safety, harm reduction, and arts sector workers rights.
With a focus on Module 1: The Built Environment, participants will then work together in teams to conduct a real-world audit of the studio space, creating a live snapshot of its accessibility. They will learn ways to identify physical barriers and brainstorm practical, non-structural changes that work with existing space, staffing, and budgets. Attendees will leave equipped with the skills to evaluate their own spaces and implement immediate, low-cost improvements, with no renovation required!