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
Let’s keep in touch!
Join ACCESS Jawn
Access Jawn is a Philadelphia-based peer-group powered by Art-Reach to foster a community of cultural professionals who are dedicated to increasing accessibility in the arts. We welcome individuals who are new to the field, an expert, and everyone in between for helpful conversation, knowledge sharing, and FUN!
Join us on Slack for conversation and in-person every third Tuesday of the month for Happy Hour!
Sign up for emails about CAFE
Get notifications about upcoming CAFE Events.
Upcoming CAFE sessions:
Let’s Take This Outside
January 27, 2021 | 3-4:30 PM EST
Zoom
During the spring of 2020 performing arts organizations across the world had to reimagine what could live theatre look and feel like in the middle of a global pandemic. Theater’s found one solution in taking their performances outdoors- while some ventured into new territory on their own campus, others found key partnerships with public land and broad open space. Production, tech, ticketing, new safety guidelines and accessible services for audiences with disabilities had to be carefully considered. What worked? What were the teachable moments? And what experiences can be shared to help performing arts organizations create a 2021 summer season we can all look forward to.
Presented by:
Marcie Bramucci, of People’s Light & Theatre
Amanda Berg Wilson, of The Catamounts
Katy Brown & Nick Piper, of the Barter Theatre
Creating with Access in Mind
March 24, 2021 | 3 – 4:30 PM EST
Zoom
Art-Reach partnered with eight arts and cultural institutions in the Philadelphia region on a grant-funded project to create short accessible videos with a simple premise: Tell us a story in a five-minute video. These ENCORE at Home videos were embedded with verbal description and captioning. With the help of Hands UP Productions, we cast Deaf Talent for ASL interpretation. How did it work? Was it a success? Partnering with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, we asked Deaf and Non-Traditional communicators to watch the videos and provide feedback through their support agencies. With the knowledge and skills to break down the access needs of this community, Deaf and Non-Traditional communicator Professional Krista Lewis will share her expertise and assessment of this project and how the arts and cultural sector can build more accessible content online.
Presented by:
Krista Lewis, Deaf and Non-Tradition Communications Specialist, DHS
View Past Presenters
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
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
