Bay of Plenty front of house accessibility training workshop
Description
Welcoming Deaf and disabled visitors to your arts events: front of house accessibility workshop
Part of the new training series facilitated by Arts Access Aotearoa.
Learn how to provide an accessible, dignified and equitable events experience to all visitors, and gain more confidence in your abilities to meet the needs of Deaf and disabled people. For all levels of experience with accessibility in the arts, the session is ideal for theatre, venue and event staff and anyone working in front of house and customer facing roles.
Explore topics of ableism and disability language and concepts, and dive into breakout sessions on managing scenarios such as meeting access needs, handling complaints, and solving access clashes and complex situations involving disability in performing arts events.
Leave the session with concrete knowledge you can bring back to your organisation, including sharable resources for casual staff and your wider team. Learn together with other arts organisations, to build stronger local networks and set the stage for developing collective action toward arts accessibility in your community.
Ongoing follow-up support is available to Arts For All Network members after the workshop, to embed your learnings. Check out the Arts For All Network, your arts accessibility resource available to all Kiwis.
Thank you to Baycourt Community and Arts Centre for generously hosting this session.
Lineup
Katie Querin
This workshop is hosted by Katie Querin, Whakahohe a Toi Ōritetanga / Arts For All Activator for Arts Access Aotearoa. Katie is a disabled person who has a background working in theatre and performing arts accessibility, and she brings both lived and professional experience to the workshop.
Agenda
- 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Workshop details
Workshop begins with introductions around the room, to learn who is sharing the space. We'll get started discussing ablism, language, and concepts and understandings of disability. There will be time for discussion and questions. After a solid grounding in FOH's role in providing accessibility and understanding disability, we will break into groups to examine scenarios that might arise for FOH. After a break for tea, biscuits and mingling, we'll return to explore existing accessibility practices and common barriers. We'll break into groups for more activities on handling complaints, conflict and access clashes, and what to do when everything doesn't go to plan. We will wrap up with key takeaways and final questions to finish at 4:30pm.
Accessibility
- Workshop access
The workshop is in the X Space in the Baycourt Community and Arts Centre at 38 Durham Street, Tauranga. Accessibility information for Baycourt is available on their website.
The space is wheelchair accessible and there is a wheelchair accessible toilet available. Certified disability assist dogs and support persons are welcome in the workshop. You are encouraged to bring comfort items, such as sunnies, hats, quiet fidget toys, and hearing protection, that can help you enjoy the session. Taking breaks and moving around during the session is welcome.
During the workshop we will break up into smaller groups for activities and scenarios. The main room may get noisy during these breakout sessions. One separate area will be available nearby to offer lower-sensory breakout session option.
The workshop will use a large font slide presentation. And visual content will be audio described, and the group activities are all discussion based, with the choice to participate a little or a lot. We aren't providing NZSL interpreters for this workshop, but if you'd like to attend and you require interpreters, please get in touch.
- Getting there
Two mobility parks are available on Durham Street, right outside Baycourt. Check out Baycourt's information on parking and transport. Or download the free Tauranga Access Map app on your phone which will guide you to accessible parking, restrooms, playgrounds, local businesses, council facilities and more. Baycourt's page on Access Maps is where you can see what's on and discover more about their accessibility.
Baycourt’s main entrance, foyer, bathrooms and X Space are all level with the footpath.
There's limited on-street parking on Durham Street and as well as near by Hamilton, Willow and Spring Streets. Parking fees apply Monday to Friday, 8am until 5pm. You can pay using nearby parking machines or the PayMyPark app. Make sure you check any time limits on signage (e.g. P15, P30, P60 or P120) so you don’t get caught out.
Bay Hopper buses are available nearby on Durham Street. Check out more information on parking and transport.
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