Workshops & Speaking

How accessible is your venue, really? This interactive workshop provides a framework to help you discover on your own. Attendees will first get a brief overview of the four modules within the comprehensive toolkit, which covers a wide range of topics from physical accessibility to access riders, nightlife safety, harm reduction, and arts sector workers rights.

With a focus on Module 1: The Built Environment, participants will then work together in teams to conduct a real-world audit of their space, creating a live snapshot of its accessibility. They will learn ways to identify physical barriers and brainstorm practical, non-structural changes that work with existing space, staffing, and budgets.

Attendees will leave equipped with the skills to evaluate their own spaces and implement immediate, low-cost improvements, with no renovation required!

How flexible is your space when it comes to supporting diverse artists and crews? This interactive workshop focuses on recognizing attitudinal barriers and creating spaces that adapt to people with different backgrounds, abilities, and experiences.

Participants work through real-world operational scenarios while exploring practical steps like supporting cultural practices, setting up sensory-friendly areas, providing all-gender facilities, and adapting technical workflows. Teams brainstorm solutions that address internal operations and daily habits alongside the physical environment.

Attendees leave with new skills and confidence to treat accessibility as an ongoing, flexible practice rather than a rigid set of rules.

How effectively does your team handle artist access needs? This interactive workshop provides venue managers, promoters, venue staff and production teams with a practical framework to integrate access riders into everyday venue operations.

With a focus on Module 3: Access Riders, participants will move beyond viewing accessibility as an afterthought or a one-off request. Together, attendees will explore how to normalize access riders as standard hospitality, covering physical adjustments, sensory needs, and communication supports. Using the Better Backstages Access Rider Template, you will learn how to assess your venues capacity to offer access support, navigate privacy and consent, locate specialized local resources, and train staff to deliver proactive, dignified care for artists on gig day.

Attendees will leave equipped with actionable strategies to streamline access requests, communicate venue barriers with transparency, and build an inclusive backstage culture where artists feel supported, respected, and ready to rock the stage!

How does your capacity impact work culture? With a focus on Module 4: Human Capacity, this interactive workshop guides venue managers and staff through evaluating internal operations and workplace well-being.

Human Capacity assesses how adequate staffing, training, workplace safety, staff supports, and service knowledge impact accessibility supports for patrons and performers. In this workshop, participants explore how burnout, high turnover, and safety risks hinder accessibility efforts.

Attendees will leave with the skills to take a closer look at how their workplace supports fairness, safety, and well-being, and review policies around harm reduction, violence prevention, and staff accommodations to uncover gaps and build a safer, more sustainable workplace for staff, patrons and performers.