Access Starts Online campaign launched
Posted on 05.11.2015
Attitude is Everything are launching a digital campaign called Access Starts Online in partnership with the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), the UK’s leading non-profit festival trade association, aiming to improve access information available online to disabled music fans.
Launching at AIF’s Festival Congress in Cardiff, Access Starts Online aims to ensure that the UK’s independent music festivals are providing a designated and detailed access page within their websites. For disabled music lovers, such online information - although simple and cost-efficient to provide - is absolutely crucial, and often determines whether they will choose to attend a festival or gig in the first place.
The initiative will be rolled out to all UK music festivals and venues by early 2016, and ultimately aims to encourage more live music businesses to commit to Attitude is Everything’s Charter of Best Practice.
More than 100 festivals and venues in the UK have now joined the Charter - including AIF members such as 2000 Trees, Cornbury Festival, Greenbelt Festival, Just So Festival and Kendal Calling. Several others are currently working towards gaining the award.
Suzanne Bull MBE, Attitude is Everything CEO, said
“The Access Starts Online campaign does exactly what is says on the tin. A lack of access information on event websites is a major barrier to Deaf and disabled fans enjoying live music, and in most instances will influence whether they actually buy a ticket in the first place. We believe the initiative will make a significant step towards change and lead to more live music businesses extending their commitment and signing our Charter of Best Practice.
“Attitude is Everything is delighted to be partnering with the Association of Inde-pendent Festivals for the campaign’s launch. Not only do they represent some of the UK’s most exciting live events, including many of my personal favourites, but as an organisation they have consistently taken a strong stand on issues that impact upon music fans such as ticket touting or legal highs. We look forward to working closely with them in future.”
Paul Reed, General Manager of AIF said:
“Having worked closely with Attitude is Everything for some time, with various members on the charter of best practice, AIF are very pleased to extend the partner-ship with 'Access Starts Online'. With most of the UK’s festivals in attendance, the Festival Congress is a fantastic launch pad for this important campaign. Access isn’t just about onsite provision but also ensuring that the right information is provided in advance on event websites and we hope to be part of a wider step change towards this within the industry”.
Visit the campaign page for more information.