Arts and Disability Website an essential tool |
17/07/2008
www.artsanddisability.com, the first all-Ireland website to provide information, resources and facts about Arts and Disability, is proving to be an essential tool for parents, families, advice workers, arts bodies and the wider community. The website was developed by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon. Large print, Braille postcards will soon be winging their way to organisations, north and south, reminding them of where this valuable information can be found.
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Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Northern Ireland said: “The quality of this Island’s arts and disability work deserved greater public awareness. Bringing together an all-Ireland resource about arts and disability into one valuable information source will inspire future artists; I would urge anyone looking for information in this area to use the web site.”
Mary Cloake, Director of the Arts Council said: “This has proven to be a successful joint venture by the two Arts Councils, North and South.
We are very grateful to the members of the arts and disability sector throughout the island, with whom we consulted to ensure the site content and design met the needs of users. We are delighted that so many individuals and groups find it so helpful in their work.”
Describing the benefits to the Grand Opera House, John Botteley, Theatre Director said, “The Grand Opera House welcomes the launch of www.artsanddisability.com. It’s a one stop shop for all queries in relation to disability and access, explains terminology and legislation and gives direction on how to make arts venues and organisations more accessible. The Grand Opera House works very hard to ensure we are accessible as possible and artsanddisability.com will only serve to help us further”.
Emma Lincoln, National Arts Development Officer with the Royal National Institute for the Bind (RNIB) also added, "The site encourages good practice amongst arts organisations and gives disabled people information so that they can get involved in arts activity. I'm delighted with the quality of the information.
For example, many venues, and many visually impaired people, still don't know about audio description. This website contains clear and accessibly-produced information that has been checked and edited by someone who uses the service."
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has made a substantial investment over a number of years, creating new opportunities for disabled people to be involved in the arts on their own terms. This is one of a number of North/South collaboration projects in the Arts & Disability area.
