MAY 19, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW GLASGOW | The River Clyde Pageant, P.E.I.’s community-engaged outdoor theatre production, has just released its first Accessibility Action Plan for 2022 through 2026 to ensure more people can participate in the annual riverside spectacle and the organization’s year-round programming. Starting this summer and continuing through the next four years, new measures will be phased in to reach a wider, more diverse range of collaborators, audience members and volunteers to create spaces and programming that are safer and more inclusive, and to develop structures of accountability within the organization.
Since 2016, the Pageant has prided itself in fostering community connections and bridging cultural and social gaps through participatory arts programming. However, organizers have recognized gaps in the Pageant’s accessibility in recent years, thanks to input from audiences, participants and community stakeholders. With this Accessibility Action Plan, they intend to make significant improvements to the Pageant experience for all involved. In tandem with this plan, the Pageant is hiring its first Accessibility Coordinator, to assist in designing and implementing measures from the plan for this summer’s production.
The Accessibility Action Plan specifically aims to serve: individuals with limited mobility, individuals who are blind or partially sighted, individuals who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing, individuals who are neurodivergent, individuals with allergies and sensitivities, IBPOC individuals, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, individuals with low incomes, individuals without a car, and newcomers to P.E.I. To aid in this, the Pageant is working closely with April Hubbard, a Halifax-based accessibility consultant, who has advised on the Action Plan and will provide mentorship for a new accessibility consultant.
“The principles of community-building and mutual aid at the core of The River Clyde Pageant reflect the principles of crip arts and disability justice that guide my work,” Hubbard said. “I look forward to continuing our collaboration this summer as I train an underrepresented community member and prepare them to join the small number of accessibility consultants in Atlantic Canada.”
Below are the action points that the Pageant plans to undertake for its 2022 Season, which includes the summer production of The River Clyde Pageant, its fall harvest event, Sharing the Field and the winter River Clyde Solstice Walk:
After 2022, long term action plans include researching and implementing ASL interpretation, increasing inclusion of IBPOC artists and administrators, developing an organizational Circle of Accountability and eventually, establishing a community bicycle share program.
“It is really exciting to share these ambitions with the public,” Pageant co-producer Ian McFarlane said. “Improving accessibility is an ever evolving process. For this reason, we invite anyone who would benefit from these initiatives to share ideas and feedback with us to help create a dynamic model of inclusivity.”
The River Clyde Pageant will release a survey soon inviting community members to share their feedback and ideas for accessibility improvements. The Pageant is also hiring an Accessibility Coordinator for this summer’s eight public performances, which run July 28 to 31 and August 4 to 7. To learn more about these opportunities and about the accessibility research and initiatives that are in motion, visit: riverclydepageant.com/accessibility
For more information, please contact:
Ian McFarlane | Co-producer & Head of Production riverclydeproduction@gmail.com