Raising the Curtain

CHAPTER 7The Arts Are for Everyone: Diversity + Accessibility

You've probably come across several acronyms for the topic this chapter focuses on—technologies being used for work in diversity and accessibility (D+A): DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), D&I (diversity and inclusion), and JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion). Miami City Ballet Executive Director Juan José Escalante likes to adds the letter B (DIB—diversity, inclusion, and belonging), because “there has to be a sense of belonging, you know—that when you're here, you belong.” And some have added the letter A make DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility).

Technology can be a useful ally for creating a safe, equitable environment. This chapter covers many technologies for D+A, but what we really want to share is the way people are using it, because technologies are continually being updated or new ones created. We'll focus on specific D+A areas with technology solutions:

• Making venues, performances, and the artistic process more accessible for people with hearing and vision challenges
• Using podcasts and streaming as platforms to address D+A in the arts
• Tackling potential or perceived bias and making your organization more equitable, including HR and marketing pieces

“I've always seen my role as looking around and asking, ‘Who's not here?,’ and ‘Why aren't they here?,’ and ‘How can we make it comfortable for them to be here and create an experience they want to come to?’,” says Vanessa ...