Action: Venue Planning

Template for Working with Sign Language Interpreters

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As a British Sign Language user, Nick Beese’s template for working with Sign Language/English interpreters is a useful prep sheet, which you can make work for you; remove sections you don’t think you need or add new ones. If you are a teacher or student this could include a glossary of all the terms used on … More

Guide to Putting on an Assisted Performance

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This guide has been produced in conjunction with Access London Theatre and compiled by the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre in order to give you as much information as possible about booking, managing and marketing an Assisted Performance – as well as best practice guidelines to providing a full and effective customer service … More

Inclusive Tourism Toolkit

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Making holidays accessible to everyone. Scotland is a naturally welcoming destination – a fact we’re incredibly proud of. Inclusive tourism is a hugely important part of this. We run several programmes that advise on inclusive tourism practices and provide support for that’ll help benefit the widest range of customers possible, as well as the businesses that … More

Involve Me

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Involve Me was a 3 year project about how to creatively involve people with profound and multiple disabilities (PMLD) in decision making. The Involve Me summary booklet and practical guide below are a result of the 3 year project, supported by the Renton Foundation and run by Mencap in partnership with the British Institute of Learning … More

Whether you are running a specific programme to engage with LGBTQ+ audiences or simply hoping to grow LGBTQ+ representation in your existing screenings, it’s really important to remember some key things to make sure you are sensitively and appropriately programming, promoting, and welcoming audiences in your cinema.

  1. Work with LGBTQ+ people themselves, whether it’s working with community or national organisations or with people within your own organisation.
  2. Employ a more diverse workforce at all levels. Welcome diverse groups in your job applications and your mission statements.
  3. If you can, get training delivered to staff about how to engage sensitively with audiences, and for a better understanding of the experience of LGBTQ+ people.
  4. Consider that people have multiple identities so communication needs to work for LGBTQ+ people across your whole programme, and don’t presume that you will only have an LGBTQ+ turnout for your targeted programming.
  5. Get LGBTQ+ people to audit your venue to give feedback about how the space feels, about signage, and about the customer service experience.
  6. Make sure you take feedback on board and actually use it, and share your reasoning across the organisation.
  7. Consider the tone of your signage – can you be gender neutral?
  8. Think about lesser told stories – not just the obvious films… Are you including lesbian and trans stories? Think about the filmmakers and if they have credibility.
  9. Get LGBTQ+ people to programme and give insights into marketing and audience development. (Best practice with any consultancy is to pay people!)
  10. Revise your communications with LGBTQ+ insights – what kind of language do you use? Are you welcoming? Is there subtle prejudice in the way you communicate that needs to be considered?
  11. You’ll need to do more community and social marketing. Engage with charities and relevant LGBTQ+ organisations.
  12. Use gay bars and clubs/venues and LGBTQ+ centres for your print advertising. If there are Pride events in your calendar, go along…
  13. Consider your survey. Do you have all the necessary fields for gender and sexuality? It’s a lot better to ask people to self-identify rather than to designate fields around gender.
  14. Could you be gathering deeper, qualitative, useful feedback – can you make yourself available to audiences for interviews/conversations afterwards?
  15. Think about opening up a dialogue and your audience will recognise the efforts you are making, and champion you to their networks. Even social media polls can be useful.
  16. Make it known that you’re trying to improve and willing to listen and learn.
downloads
* LGBTQ+ national, regional & film organisations.xlsx * Recommended LGBTQ+ films.xlsx * SQIFF at Opening our Doors - Inclusive Cinema.pdf
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LGBTQ+ Data
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Statistics, reports and organisations
An Unashamed Claim to Visibility
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Supportive Environments for Families

A presentation delivered at Opening our Doors, 2017, led by Contact a Family. The presentation looks at some day-to-day issues experienced by families with children with additional needs, how we can support them to attend the cinema, and what measures need to be taken in the cinema space.