York inclusive arts charity Accessible Arts & Media celebrate their 40th Anniversary this Autumn.
In true Accessible Arts & Media style, they’re marking the occasion with a celebratory gig at York St John University on Saturday 29th October.
Accessible Arts & Media started life as York Film Workshop, back in 1982, and registered as a charity – Old Dairy Studios – in 1988. From 1992 – 2007, Old Dairy Studios delivered an annual Youth Month programme, giving young people in York the chance to record TV and radio shows, form bands and record and perform music. A rebrand in 2002 saw Old Dairy Studios relaunch as Cube Media.
In 1992, Artlink York was set up, as part of the national Shape disability arts network, changing its name to Accessible Arts four years later. This was the beginning of Accessible Arts & Media’s long history of supporting learning-disabled people to unleash their inner artist. Accessible Arts & Media was formed by the merger of Accessible Arts and Cube Media in 2008.
Over the past 40 years, Accessible Arts & Media’s creative projects have helped over 10,000 people find their moment to shine.
Highlights include:
- Being among the first in the UK to introduce singing and signing to the mainstream, with the formation of their Hands & Voices singing and signing choir in 1997. They’re still going strong, 25 years later!
- AbleWeb, which started life in 2011 as an online radio station run for and by learning disabled adults and developed into an inclusive information website that ran until 2018. The AbleWeb team, all learning-disabled adults, created content for the site and made films and podcasts with local community groups.
- Developing iMUSE, a multi-sensory creative environment that helps reduce stress and anxiety. Accessible Arts & Media is one of a handful of organisations worldwide using iMUSE, working with people with mental ill-health, people living with dementia and people with complex disabilities.
- IMPs (Inclusive Music Projects) – launched as a weekly inclusive music club for young people in 2012, IMPs is now a year-round programme of music activities for disabled and non-disabled children and young people from York and the surrounding area.
Accessible Arts & Media Creative Director, Rose Kent, says:
“As a small local charity, we’re really proud to have reached our 40-year milestone. With our Hands & Voices Choir turning 25 and our IMPs programme celebrating 10 years, we figured the best way to celebrate our triple whammy was to put on a show. We’d also love to hear from people who’ve taken part in our projects over the years. So, if you ever recorded at Old Dairy Studios, Cube Media or Studio Cube, joined in one of our Youth Months or came along to any of our projects and events, we’d love to hear your AAM memories! You can contact us on the email below or via our social media – we can’t wait to hear your stories!”
Accessible Arts & Media’s Big Birthday Bash will be at 2pm on Saturday 29th October at Temple Hall, York St John University. The concert is sold out but if you’d like to join the waiting list, you can contact Accessible Arts & Media at info@aamedia.org.uk or on 01904 626965
