Cultural Accessibility Forum & Exchange (CAFE) creates dialogue between the cultural community and the human service sector to expand understanding and practice in accessibility.  

A large outdoor group shot of Art-Reach staff members and people who are blind or low vision. Everyone is facing the camera and smiling.

Cultural Accessibility Forum & Exchange (CAFE)

CAFE brings cultural organizations together with members of the disability and low-income communities to focus on improving cultural access for everyone.

This forum addresses issues of cultural accessibility in order to:

  •  Enhance accessible accommodations offered by the Greater Philadelphia cultural community
  •  Encourage arts providers within the sector to continue their efforts in making experiences accessible to patrons with disabilities
  •  Expand awareness of the need for such efforts

Art-Reach’s Cultural Accessibility Forum & Exchange (CAFE) is made possible with support by Independence Public Media Foundation.

Sign up for Education & Learning emails from Art-Reach

Get notifications about upcoming learning opportunities.


Name:
Email:

 

Coming Up Next! – CAFE 2023

A Reflection On Care, Labor, & Disability |A conversation on Netflix’s “Working: What We Do All Day” Click here to watch this session.

Within the show there is a line connecting the economic, political, and social circumstances that entangle disability and labor. Within the first episode entitled “service jobs” we are introduced to the crucial folks completing home care work. And given an extraordinary look at the entire structure of the Mississippi At Home Care Solutions Inc organization. But even within the other industries highlighted, there are demonstrations of how structural barriers come in varied forms.  

View Past Presenters

2023

Take on Digital Accessibility by Tamman Inc. Click here to watch this session.

Organizational Buy-In  Moderated by Marcie Bramucci, Executive Artistic Director, Hedgerow Theatre

Featuring panelists Josh Campbell, Artistic Director of Education & Engagement, World Café Live, Tyler Putman, Senior Manager of Gallery Interpretation, Museum of the American Revolution, and Vanessa Braun, Manager of Employment Engagement & Director of Accessibility, Pittsburgh Culture Trust.

Click here to watch this session.


2022

Healing Strategies Moderated By Monica Zimmerman, Vice President of Public Education, Engagement and Museum Operations, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Ross Laird-Author, Clinical ConsultantMargaret Murray- MFA St. Petersburg

Trapeta B. Mayson-Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Philadelphia Poet Laureate, 2021 Yolanda Wisher-Philadelphia Contemporary
Meet the Funders featuring panelists Beth Bienvenu from the National Endowment for the Arts, Lane Harwell of the Ford Foundation, and  Kirsten Saraceni from the Eagles Autism Foundation

2021

Offline: Staying Connected without Connectivity by Barbara Wong- Director of Community Engagement, Barnes Foundation
Amber Carroll, Director of COVIA- Well Connected
Kelsey Timler, Ph.D. Candidate, UBC Interdisciplinary Studies & Helen Brown, RN, Ph.D. University of British Columbia, School of Nursing. Click here to watch. 

Creating with Access in Mind by Krista Lewis, Deaf & Nontraditional Communication Professional, ODP. Click here to watch. 

Let’s Take This Outside by Marcie Bramucci, of People’s Light & Theatre; Amanda Berg Wilson, of  The Catamounts; Katy Brown & Nick Piper, of the Barter Theatre. Click here to watch. 


2020

Accessibility & Media Production by PhillyCAM, Click here to view CAFE on Youtube. 

Just the Ticket: Ticketing Law & and Best Practices by Dani Rose, Ticket Philadelphia & Alex Boyle, Art-Reach


2019

Understanding Service Dogs by United Disabilities Services Foundation Service Dogs.

Accessibility Planning: The Key to Successful Inclusion, presented by John McEwen, Executive Director of New Jersey Theatre Alliance

Know Before You Go Videos featuring the Students at Museums in Philly (STAMP) Teen Council 


2018

Build A Bridge International presenting, Fostering Resilience through Art Making

Elizabeth Clay presenting, The Digital Welcome Mat: Is Your Website and Marketing Accessible to the Disability Community

I AM, Documentary Film by Art-Reach


2017

The Makers of Fierce Kind of Love 

Cultural Access Network Project 

Anne Mulgrave, Manager of Grants and Accessibility at the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council

Dynah Haubert is a staff attorney with Disability Rights Pennsylvania and Johnny Crescendo a leader in the disabled people’s movement.

Roger Ideishi, Associate Professor of Instruction in Rehabilitation Sciences Program Director


Hearing concrete steps we can take and conceptual changes to new approaches was extremely helpful.

— CAFE participant