Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Disabled people are the largest minority group[1] and yet evidence shows that they still face significant barriers in almost all areas of life. This includes the exhibitions sector, where we know there is still a long way to go to create equity for disabled people in every area. Start here to learn more about how to make your exhibitions more accessible to disabled people.

Disabled people are still excluded from museums and galleries and the exhibitions they programme and tour, because of inaccessibility, persistent ableism, and lack of knowledge, confidence and experience in making things accessible. Change is needed. But how do organisations know what change to make?

Accessible exhibitions require more than meeting minimum legal standards. They demand, and deserve, a holistic approach that considers how disabled people, who face many different kinds of barriers, encounter exhibitions.

Access is not solely the responsibility of learning and/or engagement teams, visitor services, or curators—it is sector-wide work. Everyone involved in exhibitions, from leadership to architects, contractors, designers, artists, and technicians, needs to understand how their role shapes access.

It is essential to build a solid understanding of what access can be now and what you can implement to truly create a more accessible environment. Improving accessibility in exhibitions begins with expanding and deepening sector knowledge.

When disabled people are excluded from planning and decision-making, access measures can become guesswork and often miss the mark. Involving disabled consultants, artists, staff, and community members allows organisations to make informed choices, anticipate challenges, and avoid reinforcing outdated assumptions.

Planning for access is not about adding adjustments at the end of a project. It is about shaping the whole experience from the outset. Access is not a checklist, it is a way of thinking. 

Environments and practices are not consistently accessible. There are often pockets of good practice where there are passionate individuals or ‘special’ projects funded on a one-off basis so accessibility remains fragmented. Ultimately access does not happen if it is not built into every area of work in a sustainable way.

This resources includes sources of further information, guidance, and resources for accessible exhibition making.