Improving Accessibility scheme supported by Arts Disability Champion

We're delighted that Andrew Miller, UK disability champion for the arts and culture sector has welcomed our Improving Accessibility funding route, year one of our Theatre Improvement Scheme, for driving the access agenda beyond reasonable adjustment.

Our Theatre Improvement Scheme is a capital fund run in partnership with the Wolfson Foundation that awards grants of up to £20,000.

The theme for 2018 will be Improving Accessibility, and funding will be awarded to projects which make their theatre more accessible through changes to the building or its systems, with priority given to projects that could serve as best practice case studies to inspire other theatres.

Access to theatres for disabled audiences, artists & employees is vital to ensure the industry acts inclusively & fully reflects its audience. Theatre premises need to constantly evolve to meet the demands of the public regardless of the age of the building. All too often theatres are unable to employ disabled talent or accommodate disabled artists due to inaccessible offices & stages. I welcome the initiative to focus funding on those who wish to drive the agenda beyond reasonable adjustment.

Andrew Miller, UK disability champion for arts & culture

In 2018 Andrew Miller was appointed by the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions to be the Government's Arts & Culture Sector Champion - a UK wide role to improve training, access & employment opportunities for disabled people. Andrew has wide ranging experience as an arts producer and programmer, and is a National Council member for both the Arts Council England and the Arts Council of Wales.

There are currently more than 13 million disabled people in the UK and the spending power of their households – ‘the purple pound’ – is almost £250 billion. But many arts and culture businesses are missing out on this potential customer base by not ensuring that their facilities are fully accessible for disabled people.

Improving Accessibility for theatre buildings is currently open for applications, with a final application deadline of 13 September.

Find out more about the Theatre Improvement Scheme Improving Accssibility funding route.