Access 4 d/Deaf Artists in Theatre
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The New(to)Town Collective , PTC , The Story We Be , and Theatre Terrific , are currently reckoning with a disconnect between our stated commitments to accessible practice, and our respective funding capacities to carry these commitments out. Our organizations were recently approached by d/Deaf artists in our community interested in participating in our programming. Our organizations did not have immediately available funding to hire ASL interpreters skilled to work in an arts-context, and in searching for additional funding, we found that there exists a critical absence of access-based funding through the agencies and foundations that regularly support our work.
Reflecting on this incredible disconnect, we recognized that what we are facing at New(to)Town Collective, PTC, The Story We Be, and Theatre Terrific, is endemic to our arts community; wherein there exist critical systemic, interpersonal, and cultural challenges and exclusions to cultivating true, embodied, practices of access in our programs, work, performances, and events for d/Deaf and disabled members of our artistic and cultural communities. Currently there are no professional d/Deaf artists being recognized on stages in Vancouver.
We see this as a pervasive human rights issue. And as the Canada Council for the Arts sites, in their Expanding the Arts: A Guidebook for Working with Artists who are Deaf or have Disabilities, “It is a legal requirement to provide accommodations upon request whenever an applicant or member of the public wishes to access services, staff, programs, meetings and events.”
Your donation to this campaign will directly support access for d/Deaf artists in workshops currently being run by The New(to)Town Collective, PTC, The Story We Be, and Theatre Terrific by providing funds to pay ASL interpreters.
Your donation will further support the start of equitable collaboration between organizations such as New(to)Town Collective, PTC, The Story We Be,and Theatre Terrific, and d/Deaf artists in our community towards inclusive practices that allow for both cultural exchange and artistic development.
Beyond meeting immediate needs, this fundraiser, in providing evidence of material need, is the first step to a longer strategy to pressure provincial and federal granting institutions to centre inclusion of all cultures within the arts.
Reflecting on this incredible disconnect, we recognized that what we are facing at New(to)Town Collective, PTC, The Story We Be, and Theatre Terrific, is endemic to our arts community; wherein there exist critical systemic, interpersonal, and cultural challenges and exclusions to cultivating true, embodied, practices of access in our programs, work, performances, and events for d/Deaf and disabled members of our artistic and cultural communities. Currently there are no professional d/Deaf artists being recognized on stages in Vancouver.
We see this as a pervasive human rights issue. And as the Canada Council for the Arts sites, in their Expanding the Arts: A Guidebook for Working with Artists who are Deaf or have Disabilities, “It is a legal requirement to provide accommodations upon request whenever an applicant or member of the public wishes to access services, staff, programs, meetings and events.”
Your donation to this campaign will directly support access for d/Deaf artists in workshops currently being run by The New(to)Town Collective, PTC, The Story We Be, and Theatre Terrific by providing funds to pay ASL interpreters.
Your donation will further support the start of equitable collaboration between organizations such as New(to)Town Collective, PTC, The Story We Be,and Theatre Terrific, and d/Deaf artists in our community towards inclusive practices that allow for both cultural exchange and artistic development.
Beyond meeting immediate needs, this fundraiser, in providing evidence of material need, is the first step to a longer strategy to pressure provincial and federal granting institutions to centre inclusion of all cultures within the arts.
Organizer
Davey Samuel Calderon
Organizer
Vancouver, BC
