Access Culture: Building an Inclusive Community in the Arts is a six-part series of free, professional development experiences that will be hosted at Lehigh University Art Galleries through Fall 2024. Focused on accessibility and inclusion, Access Culture will facilitate the building of a community of arts professionals in the Lehigh Valley that is equipped with the tools needed to appropriately and effectively engage with audiences with disabilities.
Funded in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
Sign up here for updates and email info about the Access Culture Initiative.
Upcoming Events:
Access Culture: Behind the Scenes Accessibility Tour at Lehigh University Art Galleries
March 25, 2024 at 11:00 AM
Join us for a behind the scenes tour of Lehigh University Art Galleries with Coordinator of Museum Experience and Accessibility, Elise Schaffer and Lehigh University Accommodations Specialist, Kelly Woodbridge! Explore the galleries and discover how museum educators and staff work to accommodate visitors of varying ages and abilities in our programming and Enjoy a 20-minute guided walking tour of the galleries.
Following the tour, join us for light refreshments and an open discussion about how our staff works to make exhibitions and programming accessible to all of our visitors. Register here (opens in Google Forms).
Access Culture Discussion Group (Online)
March 29, 2024 and April 19, 2024 at 1:00 PM
As part of our Access Culture Initiative at Lehigh University Art Galleries, we are hosting a monthly accessibility discussion group for arts and cultural administrators, artists, students, educators, etc. to meet, discuss, and share resources. This group is free and open to all who are interested; this group will always meet virtually.
Suggestions or thoughts for meeting topics or resource sharing are always welcome. As always, please feel free to share this with other co-workers and colleagues who may be interested in this work.
Please contact Elise at ejs421@lehigh.edu to receive the Zoom link and for accessibility needs or accommodations in advance.
Past Events:
Access Culture: Sighted Guide Training with Sights for Hope
Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Lehigh University Art Galleries
This training will prepare front-of-house staff such as visitor services personnel, docents, theater ushers, and tour guides how to better prepare to welcome and guide patrons who are blind and/or have low vision in your arts and cultural institutions. Led by Rita Lang, Client Activities Manager at Sights for Hope, participants will leave this training with a better understanding of how to accommodate blind and low-vision audiences.
Access Culture: Arts Accessibility Conference
Saturday, November 4, 2023 at Lehigh University Art Galleries
A day of learning and connection at the Access Culture Arts Accessibility Conference, hosted by Lehigh University Art Galleries. This event will brought together experts and advocates in the field of arts accessibility to explore educational resources for making arts and cultural organizations of all kinds more inclusive and welcoming to all.
This one-day conference featured guest speakers, Katie Samson Director of Education, Art-Reach and Cecile Shellman Museum DEAl Consultant, Cecile Shellman Consulting. Presenters each brought unique perspectives and experiences to the discussion. The event provided time to network with artists, educators, performers, directors, students, and accessibility experts for their insights and practical strategies for creating accessible arts programming and spaces. Attendees included participants from organizations including Allentown Art Museum, Zoellner Arts Center, Touchstone Theatre, ArtsQuest, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Muhlenberg College Theater and Dance, Michener Art Museum and individual artists and educators.
Art Without Limits: Accessibility Information Tour of LUAG
Monday, October 23, 2023 at Lehigh University Art Galleries
Behind-the-scenes tour of Lehigh University Art Galleries with Coordinator of Museum Experience and Accessibility, Elise Schaffer! Explore the galleries and discover how museum educators and staff work to accommodate visitors of varying ages and abilities in our programming and exhibitions.
Learn More:
In the News:
Art Galleries Awarded Professional Development Grants
Questions about this initiative? Please reach out to Elise Schaffer, Coordinator of Museum Experience and Accessibility at ejs421@lehigh.edu or 610-758-6882.
Learn more about Accessibility at Lehigh University Art Galleries here.