“Fantastic mix of delegates and speakers, great mix”

“Hearing the perspectives of those with lived experience conveying their experience of the sector…  it felt welcoming and open and like there was a shared interest and passion for the subject matter in the room”

We had a lovely response to last month’s Hynt Symposium, hosted at the gorgeous newly refurbished Y Muni in Pontypridd.

Starting with some updates, we heard from Wales-wide Connect & Flourish projects. Taking Flight’s Artistic Director Elise Davison kicked us off with Breaking the Box 2, the second round of a project with a focus on training, support and opportunities for the emerging Deaf and disabled theatre workforce.

Bridie Doyle-Roberts, one of the Agents for Change appointed by Craidd spoke about their aims, both through organisational change across the five partner venues and for creating new shows with the practice they want to see, for work to be representative of Deaf and disabled people.

Tafsila Khan of Blindspot Consultancy and Access Coordinator at Taking Flight spoke with Alastair Sill of Word of Mouth audio description about their work audio describing venues, the challenges they faced, the importance of lived experience and collaboration with the venue staff.

Richie Turner introduced a video made with UCAN and Chapter Arts Centre before presenting on the Widening Engagement work undertaken for the Arts Council of Wales and National Museums Wales on “why don’t Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people attend or participate in the arts as much as non-disabled people?” In short, if people don’t have a good experience the don’t tend to come back.

Our panel session was engaging and useful according to the feedback we’ve received. With a range of lived experience and expertise, there was a lively conversation about welcoming blind and partially sighted audiences and artists. Jake Sawyers, Emma Davies and Steffan Brown (UCAN), Tafsila, Bridie, and Michelle Perez (Audio Describer and Theatr Iolo) shared personal perspectives, advice and provocations. 

Due to illness we had some speakers who were unable to join us, however, we adapt and in the new year we’ll be holding an online follow-up session to hear from  Becca Phoenix, Access and Inclusion Coordinator at Transport for Wales on accessibility in transport and the importance of consultation and Keys, Founder of Amplifying Accessibility on a report into accessibility for Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people in live music.

Huge thanks to Y Muni for being so welcoming and for some truly scrumptious food; to our incredible speakers and panellists; to all the attendees who gave us their time and energy; to my Creu Cymru colleagues for their support (practical and emotional!); the access and translation support providers; and to our funders the Arts Council of Wales.

Hynt is an Arts Council of Wales initiative managed by Creu Cymru in partnership with Diverse Cymru. Hynt is the national access scheme for theatres and arts centres in Wales.