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Roughly 1 in 6 people experience some form of disability, yet many cultural venues continue to struggle with basic digital accessibility. Despite decades of WCAG guidelines and increasing legal requirements, the problem persists. But not for the reasons you might think.
In this revealing conversation, George Hill, Chief Experience Officer at CultureSuite, and Pim Teeuwisse, Co-Founder of Accessibility Desk challenge common assumptions about why accessibility projects fail and reveal a surprising statistic about implementation costs.
"The challenge with accessibility generally is that it's perhaps not a knowledge challenge," explains George Hill. "There's a bit of a disconnect in maybe how it's taught and how venues operate."
The real cost of accessibility
One revelation from the discussion will surprise many venue managers: when asked about digital budgets, venues often spend tens of thousands on new CRMs, ticketing systems or websites, but when asked specifically about accessibility investment, the answer is frequently zero.
Pim Teeuwisse, who has audited countless cultural websites, shares a startling observation about how most websites are tested and the simple thing most venue staff never try that could immediately reveal major accessibility barriers.
The conversation also explores an innovative approach that's already delivered accessibility improvements to over 100 cultural venues simultaneously, potentially saving the sector millions in individual project costs.
Simple tests, immediate insights
Both experts agree on one surprisingly simple test that any venue can do right now to understand their accessibility challenges. It requires no technical knowledge, no budget, and takes just minutes – but most venues have never tried it.
The discussion delves into why traditional accessibility education may be missing the mark, what the European Accessibility Act really means for venues, and how emerging technologies like AI might change the accessibility landscape.
For cultural organisations ready to move beyond compliance towards genuine inclusion, this conversation offers both sobering realities and encouraging practical solutions.
Let’s make culture accessible to all
- Want to make your website more accessible?
All CultureSuite customers can take advantage of our comprehensive accessibility audit at discounted rates. Just get in touch to register your interest and we’ll get you onto the programme. Get in touch. - Need guidance on accessibility for your venue?
If you're not currently a CultureSuite customer, we recommend connecting with our trusted accessibility partners in your region. For venues in the Netherlands and Belgium, reach out to Digitaal Toegankelijk. UK venues should contact Accessible by Design. - Want to see how Peppered works?
We’re proud of how easy we make it for venues to manage their website. That’s why live event venues around the world trust Peppered. Book a personalised demo. - Looking to partner with us?
If you’re a technology provider, design agency or supplier for the arts and culture sector, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us here. - Want to learn more about digital tools for venues?
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