Arts & Access Always

Lehigh Valley Arts Council

Professional Development: AD Trainings

Incentive Grants for Greater inclusion

Nonprofit Member Arts Organization

Disability-Friendly events

Promote Your Disability-Friendly Event

For more information, contact Randall Forte, Executive Director.

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What We Do

Arts & Access Always

The Lehigh Valley has a rich and diverse arts culture, but too often those experiences are closed to people with disabilities, the fastest-growing minority in the region. The Lehigh Valley Arts Council’s Arts & Access Always program seeks to benefit the more than 86,000 people with disabilities by providing them greater access to a wider array of cultural experiences. The program is also designed to strengthen the capacity of cultural nonprofits to serve this community by providing marketing support, training and specialized equipment, and incentive grants that actively engage persons with disabilities in the arts.

From left to right; a young woman, seated in a wheelchair, smiling. In the center, comedian Josh Blue with an excited expression on his face. On the right, a young man smiles and leans in toward Josh. The young man is also seated in a wheelchair.

OUR MISSION CONTINUES:

to engage all citizens in the Lehigh Valley, intentionally securing the participation of all abilities, regardless of physical, sensory, or cognitive limitation, both as audience members and/or providers in the dance, theatrical, musical, visual, literary or media arts.

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS CULTURAL ACCESSIBILITY RESOURCES PROUD CELEBRANTS

a group of students watches a video clip. at the front of the room the instructor speaks to the students

Audio Description (AD) assists patrons who are blind/low-vision to access the visual elements of museum exhibits and stage productions through narration provided by trained describers.

Two workshops are available through the Lehigh Valley Arts Council: AD for the Performing Arts and AD for the Visual Arts. Professional development training in audio description can be beneficial to college students, educators, and arts administrators.

Audio Description Training and Information

The Lehigh Valley Arts Council is offering three types of Incentive Grants for Greater Inclusion to arts nonprofits to encourage them to adopt cultural access as a core value.

View the 2020 Grant Opportunities

On July 12, 2018 the Arts Council produced Champions of Inclusion, the Lehigh Valley’s first-ever cultural accessibility trade fair. Held at the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, the event highlighted six cultural organizations and six human service organizations as the regions leaders of cultural accessibility. A panel discussion and presentation featuring local experts in the field broke up the trade fair, and a performance by celebrated comedian Josh Blue capped off the event.

Look back at Champions of Inclusion

Unite with us to expand your reach and increase access for all

Now is the time to embrace the value of the arts as a catalyst for change. By becoming more accessible, the cultural community reaps the benefits of new partnerships, new audiences, and a new relevance to the community we serve.

To have your accessible event included in our online Arts & Access Always calendar, please complete one of these forms:

Online Submission Form

The Arts Council reserves the right to only include event submissions that are in line with the mission of Arts & Access Always.

Browse this calendar for accessible performances, film screenings, exhibitions, lectures, and public meetings scheduled in the Lehigh Valley. You will also find events that feature the stories of individuals living with a disability. The accommodations you require or the topic of interest are represented by the icons.

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Insight into the Blind | Exhibition by Micheal Freeman