Over 60 Deaf, Disabled, and neurodivergent young people and young adults from across the country have teamed up with Liverpool Theatre Company 20 Stories High and Graeae Theatre Company based in London to create The Access Manifesto: A New Chapter for the Arts.
Working with groups from Liverpool, London, Leeds, Chester, and Manchester, Maisy Gordon and Ayzah Ahmed collated the thoughts, ideas, and provocations to create a practical step-by-step guide for arts organisations and venues to take bigger steps in making the arts more accessible for young audiences, participants, and artists.
20 Stories High and Graeae first joined forces in 2023 to collaborate on their award-winning show High Times and Dirty Monsters, which also addressed the challenges that young Deaf, Disabled, and neurodivergent people face. Maisy, who was one of the actors in the show, and Ayzah, who was a participant, felt that the activism needed to continue, feeling that many of the arts spaces they visited were failing not only them but also the majority of disabled people they spoke to.
Co-writer of the Manifesto Ayzah Ahemd says:
“The access manifesto is important to me as an artist because its simple its time for a change in the right direction For us all . We as disabled people have been pushed aside for far too long I’m very happy to be a part of a film that can teach everyone how to help others by simply asking us as artists. I believe that the access manifesto is the first big step to great change now i just hope that the arts really listen and apply all that everyone has said.”
Maisy Gordon, Co-Writer of the Manifesto adds:
“Being a part of The Access Manifesto creation has been such an amazing and powerful journey. I personally got to meet all of the young people involved and had the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings through the manifesto. This means so much to me, and millions of others in the disabled community. We are so ready for change and I believe this manifesto will do just that.”
20 Stories High and Graeae will continue to work closely with Ayzah, Maisy and the team of young people to ensure this manifesto is shared widely across the arts sector, and beyond.
Leanne Jones the Co-CEO of 20 Stories High said:
“The Access Manifesto is a brilliant tool for arts organisations. Maisy and Ayzah led on these and we merely supported them. We are a learning organisation and still have a way to go, but this invaluable step by step guide will hopefully steer other arts organisations and venues of all sizes in the right direction.”
From Jodi-Alissa Bickerton, Graeae’s Deputy Artistic Director:
“We’re reassured to have allies like 20 Stories High championing bold, kind, accessible theatre. We’re thankful to our communities of young disabled people across Liverpool and London as we together challenge why access is seen as radical rather than a human right.”
The Access Manifesto: A new chapter for the arts is available as a film, with additional digital downloadable documents of the manifesto. Full resources can be found on 20 Stories High and Graeae’s websites and on the links below. We are calling to all arts leaders and decision makers to watch, share and together make the changes needed.
