Accessible Art For All – A Creative Europe Programme
AAA. Accessible Art for All is a European initiative led by Explora (Rome) in partnership with ArtReach’s Liberty UK Festival (Leicester), Altonale (Hamburg), Muzeiko (Sofia) and Regional Museum of Skåne (Kristianstad).
Through a series of high impact exhibitions, which will be part of local festivals, artists will transform toilets using their art to share important messages about how we can live in a fairer, more inclusive society. Through visual, digital, and street arts in museums, festival organisations, schools, train stations, and other community spaces, we will raise awareness about a range of issues from climate change and environmental sustainability to bullying and discrimination.
Why toilets?
In Europe, you can almost always find a toilet in every home and public place and yet we often take them for granted. The physical limitations that are often imposed on some of the people who use them can go unseen. Today, these lines of separation are stronger than ever and go beyond physical and mental limitations, and toilets. A toilet is an unconventional place for an art exhibition, but the choice is purposeful and provocative and aims to achieve a change in attitudes of non-acceptance through art, holding a mirror up to society.
Why accessible?
Toilets are not always accessible for everyone – from children to people with disabilities. In our project, toilets will be transformed not only to include artworks and installations with powerful messages but also to be accessible for the people who use those venues.
Why art?
We believe that to make art truly accessible, we need to bring art to the place where everyone goes: toilets. Through specific festivals, with workshops, installations, performances, and seminars, art and culture will be a means to launch powerful messages, with the collaboration of high-quality artists and key associated partners.
Why all?
We want to reach as many people as possible and make art truly inclusive, to share important messages about the kind of society we want to live in. With the help of artists, we will immerse people in an emotional experience, turning a visit to the toilet into a transformative journey towards becoming more compassionate. This will help us understand the barriers that not only make toilets inaccessible, but that divide us more significantly in society.
AAA. Accessible Art for All is an European initiative coordinated by Explora (Rome) and four international partners:
Liberty UK – Leicester
Altonale – Hamburg
Muzeiko -Sofia
Regional Museum of Skåne – Kristianstad/Sweden
TOILETS FOR FUTURE
In Rome and in Sofia, the festival is linked to the Fridays for Future movement and the EU environmental priorities.
TOILETS FOR THE ERASMUS GENERATION
In Hamburg, the festival is linked to what it means to be European and the most well-known European program, Erasmus, the symbol of an entire generation.
TOILETS FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN CULTURE
In Leicester, the festival is linked to the promotion of dialogue between cultures and the benefits of living in a multicultural society.
TOILETS AGAINST BULLYING AND DISCRIMINATION
In Kristianstad, the festival promotes an inclusive society and tackles any types of bullying and discrimination.