About

About the Accessibility Hub.

The Accessibility Hub is a project of Eastern Front Theatre, funded by the Canada Council for the Arts.

Breaking Barriers in Nova Scotia's performing arts sector

The Accessibility Project was created after EFT recognized that the performing arts sector in Nova Scotia needed a better understanding of accessibility in general, since disabled people weren't being represented in the arts, and services were being offered without understanding the communities or their needs. In 2020, EFT applied for and received a grant from Canada Council's Sector Development Fund to research what barriers were being faced by underrepresented artists and audiences in accessing performing arts in Nova Scotia, and to offer recommendations on how we could clear those roadblocks and create a more welcoming arts sector for everyone.

Throughout 2021, Project Coordinator April Hubbard worked with six Community Consultants who represented some of the underserved communities in the performing arts. They conducted interviews, held feedback sessions, and administered surveys before making recommendations on what organizations could do moving forward to reduce barriers to accessing and working in performing arts, no matter what their capacity. These recommendations along with many other observations were compiled by April Hubbard into a comprehensive report which was released at the end of the project.

Our mission

The Hub translates the Stage 1 Research Report into an actionable digital resource, serving as a bridge between the accessibility work already documented and the broader performing arts community that needs guidance. We work from an anti-oppression, anti-colonial, and Disability Justice framework.

Nova Scotia focus

This Hub is designed for Nova Scotia's performing arts sector: Theatre, Dance, Music, Musical Theatre, Drag, Poetry/Spoken Word, and Circus.

Thank you

A huge thank you to Canada Council for the Arts for supporting Phases One and Two of the Accessibility Project under their Sector Innovation and Development funding.

The Accessibility Project wouldn't exist without the Phase One team led by the incomparable April Hubbard whose tireless efforts for advocacy have pushed disability justice forward both in the performing arts sector and in Nova Scotia. We are indebted to her work.

Many thanks to her team as well:

  • Nat Chantel
  • Carmen Lee
  • Leelee Oluwatoyosi Eko Davis
  • Maeghan Taverner
  • Kirsten Taylor
  • Raymond Sewell

Community supporters

Phase two

  • 2b Theatre
  • Bus Stop Theatre Co-operative
  • EVERYSEEKER
  • Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax
  • Mocean Dance
  • The Villains Theatre

Phase one

  • 2b Theatre
  • Atlantic Presenters Association
  • Bus Stop Theatre Co-operative
  • Charles Taylor Theatre and Media Association
  • Chester Playhouse
  • Dartmouth Players
  • East Coast Music Association
  • EVERYSEEKER
  • Halifax Busker Festival
  • Halifax Dance
  • Halifax Fringe Festival
  • Halifax Pride Festival
  • Halifax Theatre for Young People
  • Keep Good (Theatre) Company
  • Khyber Centre for the Arts
  • Kick At The Dark Theatre Co-operative
  • Kinetic
  • King's Theatre
  • Lions Den Theatre
  • Live Art Dance
  • LunaSea Theatre
  • Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax
  • Mocean Dance
  • Neptune Theatre
  • Nocturne Halifax
  • Page 1 Theatre
  • Prismatic Arts Festival
  • Probably Theatre Collective
  • Ship's Company Theatre
  • The Villains Theatre
  • The Woods Hip Hop Company
  • Theatre Baddeck
  • Theatre Nova Scotia
  • Two Planks and a Passion Theatre
  • Votive Dance

Acknowledgements

This Hub would not exist without the community consultants who contributed to Stage 1 of this research. Their lived experience and expertise is the foundation of everything here.

My Plan
Support & sustainability

Our sponsors.

Canada Council for the Arts
Founding · Initial funding partner
Eastern Front Theatre
Steward · Administers the project
Become a community sponsor
Support & sustainability