Open Access Workshop: Organizing Accessibility from the Grassroots

As the COVID-19 crisis has grown, disability activists, artists and advocates have raised many concerns and insights—including the one that, as Aislinn Thomas puts it, “chronically ill, Mad, Deaf, and disabled people are in a unique position. We are experiencing increased vulnerability, but, at the same time, our ingenuity, knowledge, and genius skills are suddenly relevant to the rest of humanity.” This makes it a prime time to participate in one of Carmen Papalia’s excellent Open Access workshops. Previously enacted at Tate Liverpool, among other venues, this workshop organized by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria  is being offered online; according to the project page, “participants from organizations and institutions that serve the public will have the opportunity to reconsider their accessibility and public engagement practices towards the goal of a relational accessibility program that evolves with the culture of the publics that they serve.” This kind of work around accessibility has always been urgent, but it’s long been ignored by arts institutions. Only now are more institutions finally becoming more deeply aware of some of their access problems due to the temporary closures of their physical spaces. With only 100 (free!) spots available for this workshop on April 17, it’s worth signing up ASAP. —Leah Sandals