Introduction
New Music Edmonton (NME) values the importance of being inclusive and accessible in all facets of our operations. In support of this, NME developed and adopted: Guidelines for Fostering Positive Spaces. NME understands that to truly foster positive and welcoming spaces, we must be deeply committed to improving accessibility in our digital environments and event spaces, while also striving to reduce and ultimately remove barriers to participating in our activities.
NME recognises that disability is unevenly distributed, often affecting already marginalised communities, including Black, Indigenous, Queer, and low-income people. NME believes that there is an immediate need to create more equitable and accessible arts spaces, and we understand that accessibility is an important way to create more inclusive spaces. This document highlights our efforts to improve accessibility in all areas of NME operations, while also acknowledging that this is ongoing work that we will continue to assess and develop.
NME currently has the following in place:
- Access information is provided frequently, and regularly updated.
- Clearly communicating the accessibility of our event and concert venues in our digital promotional materials.
- Access information is consistent across all our platforms: website, Facebook events, email announcements, and social media posts.
- Staff are available to the public by phone or email for additional access requests, questions about our spaces, and the access resources available at NME.
- An established and clear process by NME staff for event access.
- During events, there is a specific point person who is in charge of facilitating access, and answering questions.
- Events that are free, or low-cost/by donation.
- Events that are located near public transit.
- Events that are physically accessible / without barriers
- Content warnings in event descriptions
- Supporting the cultural labour of disabled artists
NME is committed to working towards the following:
- Annually training for staff and board members regarding accessibility.
- Regularly seeking and implementing community feedback on accessibility.
- Developing an accessible website that meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.
- Assessing where improvements can be made to the accessibility for our remote/digital event environments (i.e captioning, interpreters, etc. as appropriate and possible).
- Assessing where improvements can be made to the accessibility of our concert and event spaces, including hosting events at venues outside the downtown core.
Additional information:
- Our work towards accessibility at NME exists within a legal framework that includes the Alberta Human Rights Act, Canadian Human Rights Act, and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
- Please note that we are an arts organisation run by a volunteer board and part-time staff, with limited financial resources. While we are highly committed to upholding the values outlined in this document, there are limits to our human and financial resources.
- NME will review this document on an annual basis, and make necessary adjustments to ensure that we are meeting the needs of all stakeholders.
- NME welcomes and encourages feedback on any aspect of accessibility.
- This document was adopted in September 2024.
Contacts
- Chenoa Anderson, NME General Manager: generalmanagerATnewmusicedmontonDOTca
- Ian Crutchley, NME Artistic Director: artisticdirectorATnewmusicedmontonDOTca
- Ben Whittier, President, NME Board of Directors: presidentATnewmusicedmontonDOTca
