The Venue Accessibility Toolkit

Creating better accessibility for Melbourne Live Music veneus

The Toolkit

This project is looking in this space of economic and easy to install artefacts to help with accessibility and inclusion in venue spaces. But rather than impliment these artefacts, they are designed to create conversation about venue accessibility with performers, venue staff and venue owners.

The issue of venue accessibility is complicated by venues not having good resources on what they should do to be more accessible and inclusive. There are guidelines available, but they lack follow through procedure and actionable steps, leaving many still not knowing how to approach this huge issue. On top of that, the guidelines do not always reflect the context of venues (such as signage being placed at 5-foot, bellow head height), nor do they have a direct focus on accessibility factors like making sure everyone can have a fun and enjoyable experience.

The purpose of the toolkit is to foster a conversation about what is useful, needed and wanted to help venues become more accessible and inclusive. The conversation needs to happen with the music community as it involves many different stakeholders across venue management, performers and council and other organisations. The toolkit is comprised of different artefacts that represent what venue accessibility could look like, they are based off the guidelines, and are intended to represent venue accessibility that focuses on fun and inclusive experiences.

Creating tangible representations of these factors will hopefully help foster better understanding between different stakeholders on what accessible guidelines should cover and why.

The artefacts are conversation starters to talk through these different points and hopefully work towards a set of guidelines that work for venues and patrons.

Artefacts

  • Pint Glass Holder

    Designed to hold a pint of beer, its meant to help those with physical mobility issues. However it could also be used to help those with sensory issues to not touch the cold, wet sides of the glass.

  • Stage Tape

    To create a stage at floor level should only a raised stage be available. This is already done in some venues, however its not common or well communicated with performers with disabilities as an option.

  • Chalk Stencils

    These are designed to represent each four sections of the guidelines. To help venue staff keep accessibility in mind day to day.

  • Braille Embosser

    Designed to add braille to paper menus quickly

  • The 'Gig Bag'

    This is designed to represent and create conversaton around, what epople need to prep for going to see a gig or live music performence. I.e. hand santitiser, or even a letter outlining accessibility information for venue staff or bouncers.

  • Sign Measuring Tape

    This is designed to show how high signage should be within a venue within current requirements for signage. This is to move away from a reccomendation that simply states signange being places at 5 foot high.

  • Braille Menu

    This was designed to create conversaton about how we could impliment braille and different menu types best. Would something like this or a braille ambosser work better? How many would a venue need and would they be kept behind the counter or not?

  • Drink Cards

    These are designed as an alternative menu option. especially in bars where it may be loud and difficult to commnicate. It also goes into the make up of different drinks and proportions to help those who may not know what ingreedients are in what drinks.

  • Strobe Indication Sign

    This is designed to create conversations about strobe lighting, should venues be more transparent about the use of strobes and do we need to use strobe lighting in general?

  • Badge Stamps

    These are designed to replace ink wrist stamps for people who may not want something directly on thier skin.

  • Step Measuring Stick

    This is designed to measure different step heights in a venue. To help venue staff and owners have a better understanding of the accessibility of their spaces to then better communicate this information to people who may be in wheelchairs or need information of the venues environment.

  • Quiet and Loud Zones

    To indicate where there may be quiet areas in a venue, but also where extra loud areas might be. Such as in front of speakers.

The Pint Glass Holder

Final prototype of the pint glass holder. Designed to aid in holding a pint of beer for those with mobility or sensory difficulties.

The Sign Measuring Tape

Final prototype of the sign measuring tape to aid venue staff in placing signage at the appropriate height for their venue.

The Step and Door Measuring Stick

Designed to help venue owners assess the accessibility of their spaces quickly for those in whelechairs. Especially step heights and door widths.

Braille Embosser

This is the final version of the Braille Embosser tool to help venue staff add braille options to menus.

Participatory Research

User Testing

The user testing didn’t use the artefacts as much as the focus groups, however they were successful in representing the different facets of the guidelines.

User Testing

After the user testing, participants also said they had a better understanding of accessibility. Some even saying they wanted to change the way they perform to focus on accessibility more.

Focus Groups

Participants enjoyed interacting with the artefacts and said they felt more confident in their understanding of venue accessibility and being able to discuss venue accessibility better in the future.

Focus Groups

The focus groups created great conversation about how the industry could change to be more accommodating.

The Report

For more information please have a look at the report!