News and initiatives
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Interview – Resources provided by Winnie Luk
As part of the podcast series, “ArtsAbly in Conversation,” Diane Kolin interviewed Winnie Luk, the Executive Director of the Disability Screen Office. This post presents the resources that Winnie Luk mentioned during the conversation. Listen to Winnie Luk’s interview in Episode 56 Winnie Luk Winnie Luk is the inaugural Executive Director of the Disability Screen Office (DSO). The DSO is a national, disability-led, not-for-profit organization that develops opportunities for disabled creatives and advocates for a more accessible Canadian screen industry. Our vision is an accessible and inclusive Canadian screen industry where disabled creatives thrive. Winnie is a disability advocate, 2SLGBTQI+ activist,…
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Empower Arts Summit 2026 – Beyond Access: Reimagining the Stage Through Disability Leadership
I am still reflecting on the Empower Arts Summit: Beyond Access: Reimagining the Stage Through Disability Leadership, which was held on June 1st, 2026, at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, to mark National AccessAbility Week in Canada. The event was masterfully organized by Joël Dazé. The aim of the summit was to challenge participants to move beyond minimum standards of accessibility and toward bold, disability led ways of creating, producing, and experiencing the performing arts.
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Roy Thomson Hall: the choir loft becomes accessible 44 years after the opening
This is a huge victory for accessibility in the performing world! Roy Thomson Hall (own by The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall) is the home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and a major venue for large semi-professional or professional ensembles, orchestras and choirs. It opened in 1982. Renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman served as a special advisor to the architects during the design phase to ensure that the venue was fully accessible to disabled performers and patrons at all levels. However, the choir loft, located on a balcony above the orchestra, was left aside. Choristers access the choir…
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Music and Collective Access Symposium 2026 – Final Report
On February 27 and 28, 2026, we completed our inaugural Music and Collective Access Symposium at St. John’s College, UBC, in Vancouver, and online. It was a successful event. This final report will go back to the origins of the event, give some insights into its different steps, and highlight the content of the symposium. The program is still available on the symposium’s website: https://www.musiccollectiveaccess.com/. Origins of the project and budget The idea of the symposium was born from a conversation between Dr. Anabel Maler, Assistant Professor of Music Theory at the University of British Columbia School of Music, and…
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Music and Collective Access Symposium 2026 – Website and program
The new website of the Music and Collective Access Symposium 2026, co-organized by UBC and ArtsAbly, has been launched. The program of the symposium, which will be held on February 27 and 28 in Vancouver, is now published. The event is free but registration is mandatory. Please visit https://www.musiccollectiveaccess.com/ for more information. Registration is now open. This event will present a mix of lectures, lecture-recitals and workshops. Our keynote speaker is Pamela Witcher. We invite you all to join and share the information with your networks. Contact us if you have questions.
