The MU are proud supporters of the Access to Music 2024 Conference. Image credit: Shutterstock.
The one-day conference is intended to help discover how the sector can become ever more welcoming to, and appropriate for, performers and audiences with additional access needs.
Panels of experts will discuss topics including the experiences of artists and audiences, developments in technology and education, and latest insights into research and policy.
- Date: Friday 3 May 2024
- Time: 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
- Location: Discovery Space, Montpellier Gardens, 24 Montpellier Spa Rd, Cheltenham GL50 1UL
- Ticket cost: From £50 in-person and from £10 online via live stream
Find out more and buy tickets for both in-person and online attendance. You can also advise of any accessibility requirements by completing the access form prior to the event.
What to expect on the day
There will be live performances (including Brand New Heavies, Bettye LaVette, and Nubiyan Twist & Orchestra Baobab as part of the Jazz Festival’s 2024 programme) and the opportunity for attendees to experience the BEAT BLOCKS haptic dancefloor, which provides sensory feedback to dancers.
Adrian Bossey, Head of Business & Experience Design at Falmouth University, will deliver the keynote address. Delegates can expect to:
- Engage in open discussions surrounding inclusivity and intersectionality, through the lens of disability
- Deepen their understanding of what is important to disabled people in the music industry today
- Connect with like-minded people of all ages and levels of experience committed to working with a disability-led approach
- Reflect on how they might create space for new approaches and ideas
- Be empowered with practical tools and knowledge.
The MU are proud supporters of the Access to Music 2024 Conference
The MU is also attending the event alongside the industry’s representative body UK Music and others. Further attendees will include national arts charities Youth Music and Drake Music, alongside entrepreneurial hub Creative United.
Cheltenham Festival’s co-CEO, Ali Mawle says: “In recent years, Cheltenham Festivals has made huge strides in accessibility, with changes to our front-of-house, backstage and sitewide processes and policies.
“We’ve always made a point to share and consult with colleagues across the sector and community in our work, and this conference is an amazing opportunity to bring everyone together to explore a shared roadmap for the future of accessibility in music and live events.”
Find out more and buy tickets for both in-person and online attendance. You can also advise of any accessibility requirements by completing the access form prior to the event.