Seeing the launch of its large print access guide, a leading arts centre will be giving free activities for all abilities funded by players of the Peoples’ Postcode Lottery. mac Birmingham will be providing freely availability recorded on mac’s large print access guide website prior to the event on Saturday 11 March. The guide highlights the many facilities and assistance on offer, helping to ensure all visitors feel informed and welcomed. Visitors can enjoy a portrait exhibition curated by mac resident band Switch and resident theatre company Spectra. Switch will also perform a medley of their songs in the afternoon.
It will be screening three films, from 2pm – a relaxed screening of ‘My Feral Heart,’ which features Luke, an independent young man with Down's Syndrome, forced to live in a care home following the death of his aged mother, who strikes up an unlikely friendship with the gardener. An animated film: ‘A Silent Voice’ is subtitled and relaxed.
Based on a popular Manga comic, it highlights the plight of a bullied deaf student and her aggressor. It’s followed by a subtitled and audio described screening of the Oscar winning film ‘Moonlight’, which chronicles the life of a young Black man - from childhood to adulthood - as he struggles to find his place in the world.
Deborah Kermode, CEO and Artistic Director at mac Birmingham said: “We are so proud to be involved with Disabled Access Day once again and enormously grateful that the players of People’s Postcode Lottery are supporting the free activities. The day is a great opportunity to highlight the many accessible creative activities and facilities we have on offer throughout the year and we hope it will help to ensure we welcome even more visitors to our venue. We’re currently working with several charities, which will see increased programming for disabled young people and adults within our centre and in the surrounding community – all of which will help to ensure our ethos of arts for all is fulfilled.”
Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, Clara Govier, added: “We are delighted that our players are once again able to support mac’s Disabled Access Day by funding the free activities on offer.”
Disabled Access Day was developed by Euan MacDonald, Founder of Euan’s Guide, which features disabled access reviews from disabled people, their friends and families. Supporters of Euan’s guide include JK Rowling and Stephen Hawking.
Free activities for younger visitors include: tai chi, dance, arts and crafts and relaxed drama and the free adult activities include: painting and drawing to music, pottery and drama and wellbeing
Supporting the event for the second year running, mac’s day of activity runs from 10am to 6.30pm, with performances, workshops and support from local disability charities, who will be on hand to publicise their activities and services to visitors.
