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Learning from disabled audiences

Access isn't just about ramps and doorways, it's also a new way of thinking about audiences that has ramifications for the way artists work.

24 May 2016 12:00

Richard Watts

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Writing and Publishing

Participants at Siblings in Sync, part of Arts Centre Melbourne’s accessible music program. Photo by Sasha Bradbury.

Tactile tours and audio descriptions for the vision-impaired; Auslan-interpreted performances for the deaf and hard of hearing; relaxed performances for children with autism spectrum disorder and sensory and communication disorders; and access-friendly performances – the arts are increasingly welcoming of and aware of diversity.

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Richard Watts

Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's former National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the 2019 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in early 2020. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association in 2021, and a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Photo: Fiona Hamilton. Follow Richard on Bluesky @richardthewatts.bsky.social and Instagram @richard.l.watts