Tangled Art + Disability & Horizon Survey: Organizational Access Gaps for Deaf, Disabled, and Mad-identified Artists

Tangled Art + Disability in partnership with the Horizon Initiative is conducting research to explore the experiences of Deaf, disability-identified, and Mad artists working with arts organizations in Toronto. 

By gathering a wide range of experiences from artists and organizations they will build a better picture of where access gaps exist. This research will be used to inform Tangled Art + Disability and the Horizon project partners in the creation of new resources and programs to address identified barriers.

The first stage of this research is a survey you can take online. 

You can find the survey on our website by clicking here.

If you prefer, you can take the survey over the phone, or in person in english, ASL or LSQ. If you have any questions, or would like to take it by phone or in person, please contact: victoria@tangledarts.org or call 647 725 5064.

This project has been made possible through funding from the Open Door initiative through the Toronto Arts Council.

Creative Users new website - Accessing the Arts!

After a two year long journey, Creative Users, an initiative of Akin Dupont member Lindsay Fisher, is thrilled to officially launch their new website and accessible events listing thanks to the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council.

This website features information about Creative User projects, as well it provides an events listing, "Accessing the Arts" which features accessible arts and disability arts happening in Toronto. Creative Users' goal for the next two years is to research and evaluate the usability of this site, to expand the scope of resources to include accessible and inclusive curatorial practices happening nationally with information, news articles and documentation on making the arts accessible along with updates on what's happening in the disability arts scene. 

Creative Users is a disability-led artist platform that explores the intersection of art and design practices, accessibility, and disability. Creative Users is a shapeshifter, cultural connector and sector builder of disability arts and accessible curatorial practice. The work stems from a desire to activate art and make visible an inclusive arts culture. creativeusers.net

Accessibility Info for Galleries in Downtown Toronto

We've been slowly collecting the accessibility information of fine art galleries around Toronto. Here's what we have collected so far. If you have any comments or additional information get in touch info@akincollective.com

Accessibility Info:

🖼️  While there are plans to make the church building housing Creative Space Residency accessible, it is not currently accessible. The studio, an apartment inside the church, is up one flight of stairs. There is free street parking along many side streets surrounding the church, and pay parking on Queen Street East. There is roughly 3 or 4 steps to enter. There are washrooms on the main floor and second floor. It is two flights up to the studio.

🖼️  Cobalt Gallery does not have designated handicap parking. There are steps to enter the gallery and no automated doors. The washroom is not on the ground level. Their is no grab bar in the bathroom and the toilet is not raised.

♿  Daniel Faria Gallery has step free access to main entrance though there is a small lip. If it is difficult to enter through the door there's a garage door. The door is not automated. Almost all public areas are level. There is a ground level washroom. It is not designed for wheelchairs and may not be wide enough for some wheelchairs to turn around. There are no grab bars in bathroom. The toilet is not raised.

♿  Division Gallery has step free access to main entrance. If it is difficult to enter through the door there's a garage door. The door is not automated. All public areas are level. There is a ground level accessible washroom. There are no grab bars in bathroom. The toilet is not raised. 

♿  The Great Escape Book Store  is a converted garage behind my bookstore on Kingston Road.  The garage is located in an alley with street access from Scarborough Rd. It has double barn doors that allow wheelchair access.  The store has access from Kingston a Road on the sidewalk with a ramp but there isn't any access to the washroom, or for a wheelchair to go through the store.

♿  Mercer Union has step free access to main entrance, though there is a small lip. The door is not automated. Almost all public areas are level. There is a ground level accessible washroom. There are no grab bars in bathroom.  The toilet is not raised.

🖼️  There street parking near the Project Gallery on Queen Street East, but there is no designated handicap parking. There are no level or accessible entrances. The front entrance has one small step and the doors are not automated. The washroom is on the ground level, but there are no grab bars in the washroom and the toilet is not raised.

♿  Robert Kananaj Gallery has private parking beside the building for 4 vehicles, and there is street parking in front. There is no special designated handicap spot. Robert Kananaj Gallery has a street level entrance, but there is a gap up three inches from the sidewalk up over the threshold. The door is not automated but can be propped open. All public areas are level.  The washroom is on the ground level. There is a grab bar in bathroom. The toilet is not raised. 

♿  Scrap Metal Gallery There is no designated disability parking. There is one spot available for whomever just outside the gallery. There is a ramp at the entrance of the Gallery or on occasion someone inside will need to lift the garage door for a wheelchair to enter. The doors are not automated. The washrooms are on the ground level. Almost all public areas are level. There are no grab bars in bathroom.  The toilet is not raised.

♿  Studio 888 has street parking only. There is one step to enter the gallery but there is also a ramp. Studio 888 does not have automated doors but if the weather permits, the door is often propped open. The gallery is on the ground floor. The public washroom is large but navigating a wheelchair may prove awkward. Studio 888 has a ramp main gallery space and it is all accessible after entering. Is no there grab bars in bathroom and the seat is not raised.

♿  XPACE Cultural Centre has step free access to main entrance. The door is not automated. Almost all public areas are level. There is a ground level accessible washroom with a grab bar. The toilet is not raised. 

🖼️  There is street parking near Yellow House Gallery. There are three steps to enter the gallery. Once inside the gallery it is all one level with no more steps.