Accessibility has been an ongoing topic of discussion for institutions and organisations across sectors who seek to improve and enhance their offerings. Museums, galleries and cultural institutions around the world are no exception.
With a growing and varying audience profile, how do arts and cultural institutions ensure that their offerings are accessible to everyone?
Local and international experts hailing from the cultural sector, urban planners, and academics are looking to answer this question at the two-day Accessibility for Diverse Communities: The Role of Cultural Institutions conference which commenced earlier today.
Organised by Culture Academy Singapore, and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, the conference offers important perspectives into the positioning and responsibilities of a cultural institution in today’s diverse society. Through discussions on the challenges faced by cultural institutions, the conference also addresses how accessibility refers to both physical spaces and audience needs, and how multiple access points can be created to ensure that the arts and culture remain accessible to all. The conference was attended by Guest-of-Honour Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, local and international experts in the cultural sector; arts and heritage professionals; and members of the public.
The two-day conference features five panel discussions, where speakers and audiences examine topics including how underserved communities and ethnic minorities can be better engaged and represented; the different ways in which digital technologies can be harnessed to create more inclusive offerings; and the economics behind making the arts and culture accessible to all. The panel discussions will be complemented by a sharing session on accessibility initiatives across the sector, to generate further discussions in these areas.
An authority on inclusivity in museums, Dr David Fleming – who is President of INTERCOM (International Council Of Museums’ International Committee on Museum Management and Leadership), and whose vast portfolio includes being a museum director for more than 25 years – delivered a keynote address at the opening of the conference, where he reiterated the importance for cultural institutions to be more inclusive. Other notable speakers for the conference include:
- Dr Lucy Bolger, Lecturer of Music Therapy, Creative Arts Therapies Research Unit, University of Melbourne (UOM), Australia;
- Dr Rimi Khan, Senior Research Fellow, University of Melbourne (UOM), Australia;
- Mr Chad McGitchie, Head of Visitor Teams & Access Lead Manchester Museum & the Whitworth, University of Manchester;
- Mr Kennie Ting, Group Director of Museums, National Heritage Board (NHB); and
- Ms Ye Yipei, In-gallery Digital Media Team, Palace Museum, China.
As part of the conference, the panellists will share on the different accessibility programmes and efforts undertaken by the various cultural institutions they represent.
The insights from the conference will also pave the way for greater inclusivity in our cultural sector – an area of interest addressed in both Our SG Heritage Plan and Our SG Arts Plan, Singapore’s five-year masterplans for our arts and heritage sectors. Both plans feature key strategies and initiatives to make the arts and culture more accessible to all, working towards the outcome of building a caring, cohesive and confident nation.
During the conference, a Memorandum of Understanding to intensify the cultural collaboration between NHB, through the Culture Academy Singapore, and the University of Melbourne (UoM), was signed – a testament to the Culture Academy Singapore’s efforts to strengthen capability development in Singapore’s arts and cultural sector. The memorandum marks the start of a close three-year partnership with UoM, and sets the stage for a robust exchange of ideas and expertise.
Guided by its vision to be a centre of excellence for the development of culture professionals and administrators, the Culture Academy’s work spans three areas: Education and Capability Development, Research and Scholarship and Thought Leadership.
The Culture Academy also provides professional development workshops, public lectures and publishes research articles through its journal, Cultural Connections to nurture thought leaders in Singapore’s cultural scene.
One of the Academy’s popular offerings is its annual thought leadership conference which provides a common space for cultural leaders to gather and exchange ideas and best practices and to incubate new ideas. It also offers networking opportunities and platforms for collaborative ideas-sharing.