open access evening at milton keynes theatre and milton keynes gallery

Tuesday 19 August 2008, 5.30pm for 6pm welcome

Do you consider yourself disabled and have an interest in the arts, but don't feel that you can access them? Why not come along to the Open Access Evening hosted by Milton Keynes Gallery and Milton Keynes Theatre on Tuesday 19 August at 5.30pm and enjoy an exciting opportunity to find out about the artistic and educational programme opportunities at both venues.

You can also find out how you could be part of changing accessibility at both venues in the future, as there will be an opportunity on the same evening for regular and new arts attenders to register an interest in joining a new Theatre and Gallery Disability Access Steering Group that is being formed.

The Open Access Evening is an informal opportunity for you to find out more about the two organisations and will include audio described guided tours of the current exhibition by Richard Woods at Milton Keynes Gallery, an opportunity to go onto the main stage at Milton Keynes Theatre, take part in a 'costume insight', meet friendly staff from both venues and find out about the services that both venues offer to people with disabilities.

There will also be a presentation by the Buckinghamshire Association for the Blind & Partially Sighted People on how they have been working with the Theatre & Gallery on activities and policy change.

The role of the Disability Access Steering Group, supported by Theatre and Gallery staff, will be to feedback on current disability access provision and inform future developments in terms of customer services, venue facilities and programme accessibility for the whole community.

Milton Keynes Theatre and Milton Keynes Gallery opened in October 1999 as fully accessible buildings, supported by a major grant from the Margaret Powell Trust. Although built with visitor and patron access in mind, both organisations aspire to the highest levels of service accessibility for all and the steering group will support the regular monitoring and review of these services and inform any possible service improvements.

A variety of research with different potential disabled user groups has already been started by the education staff at both the Theatre and the Gallery.

Jodie Gibson, Education and Outreach Manager for Milton Keynes Theatre, speaking of the project said: "Our buildings were designed to be fully accessible to the disabled. However this initiative is broader in terms of our desire to explore with our visitors and patrons, how we can provide an even better service, and encourage the widest possible attendance and participation. "

Natalie Walton, Head of Education at Milton Keynes Gallery added: "This event is part of an ongoing process that will ensure that the access needs of visitors to the theatre and gallery are led by the users themselves. I hope that this event will be an opportunity for the theatre and gallery to work closely with members of the community with varying access needs so that we can ensure our venues are open to everyone."

Anyone who would like to attend is invited to arrive in the Milton Keynes Theatre foyer at 5.30pm for a welcome drinks reception.

There will be BSL interpreters available throughout the evening.

This event and the development of the Disability Access steering group has been made possible with support from The Milton Keynes Theatre and Gallery Company.

If you require further information about the evening or the access steering group itself please contact either: