Our group found that a big part of justice is inclusivity and that means for everyone. Coming from different artistic backgrounds we found that by creating our own individual posters we could cover more topics in accessibility. Having talked about what catches our eyes in the streets, we discussed we are more gravitated towards posters including art galleries and music events, and wanted to take inspiration from this. To create a cohesive element in our posters we included: a common font, colors with intent, and soft shapes and imagery. Topics we have covered in our research include curating accessibility, homeless accessibility, neurodiversity, and institutional accessibility. Our group believes that accessibility should be heard and creating a widespread message via posters was the best path to get the word out.
Accessibility Anarchy
Key points in Curating Accessibility:
- How do we access curated spaces in arts? (How do people of colour access these spaces? How do people with disabilities access..? How do queer/non-cis-gender people access?)
- Curating language for accessibility- what language or what kind of language do we use in curated spaces? Who can actually read the texts on the walls? What’s the presumed level of academic knowledge/jargons in viewers? What race/culture/gender/class are the texts meant for?
- Instead of seeing and hearing, what alternative modes of spectatorship are available? How can we curate to accommodate those who experience through touch? (Wellcome Collection, Being Human, 3d printed models of sculptures/ceramics)
- Site specificity- Is the space geographically accessible? If not, how is this resolved? (online presence/podcast, etc) If online, how do we address disadvantages in internet access (lack of digital devices, censorship)?
- Are we engaging artists with disabilities in curatorial spaces?
Key points in shelters /homelessness / city spaces:
The urban built environment is highly controlled and regulated, and control mechanisms are largely hidden.
Increasing instances of hostile construction in street furniture and cities, with some tolerance of diversity but exclusion of the homeless.
It's publicly accessible but privately owned.
Churches are not capable of being shelters for the homeless and transients
A person who has been instructed not to sleep in a particular place and who continues to stay there will be considered to be in breach of the law. Do homeless people really receive protection rather than victimisation?
(Criminal justice Bill - publications.parliament.uk)
Key points in institutional spaces :
- Lack of funds for students (poor hard to get loans or scholarships/ rich have to pay out of pocket)
- Price gouging for equipment usage and materials ( already paid tuition then adding additional out of pocket costs to every single item in the school, corrupt funding from the sacklers that could easily cover costs)
- Inadequate tutoring (base level skills, not enough mentors)
- Accessibility plans are written out but not actually practiced (this can stand for many different problems too like the anti racism platform. Building functionality non existent, doors impossible to open with no disability how can someone in a wheelchair access anything)
- Lack of time given to students to feel comfortable in what they are making/learning (shortening time, not enough resources for the number of students to create a satisfactory piece of work or thesis, “making up for covid times” etc etc)
“https://www.iastatedigitalpress.com/jlsc/article/12883/galley/12550/view/” -Centering Accessibility: A Review of Institutional Repository Policy and Practice
Key points in Neurodiversity:
- Accessible community activities
- Sensory and accessibility issues around environments/community designed places:
- Bright lights, Loud crowded spaces
Autism Hour
- Contextualizing language and signs
Links: https://www.autism.org.uk/
https://www.charitycardshop.com/nas/category/2
https://www.papyrus-uk.org/misconceptions-about-neurodiversity/
https://acrossrca2023.rca.ac.uk/projects/invisible-women-in-a-neurodiverse-world/