This is the latest ArtsAbly newsletter. The Music and Collective Access Symposium we organized in partnership with UBC in Vancouver on Feb 27 and 28 is still fresh in our minds. You will find the final report in this newsletter. www.artsably.com?mailpoet_rou...

Thank you to those who attended the Music and Collective Access Symposium 2026, on February 27 and 28, online or in person in Vancouver. It was a successful event. Don't forget to subscribe to ArtsAbly's newsletter on www.artsably.com to receive the symposium report and other related information.

We are ready for the Music and Collective Access Symposium! The three co-organizers, Stefan Sunandan Honisch, Anabel Maler and myself representing ArtsAbly, are ready to learn from our colleagues and community members for two days of lectures, performances and workshops at St. John’s College, UBC.

Tomorrow, Sunday, February 22nd, 12 PM PT, is the last day to register for our upcoming Music and Collective Access Symposium, a hybrid event organized by the University of British Columbia and ArtsAbly, on February 27 and 28, 2026. More information and registration on musiccollectiveaccess.com.

Meet the team behind the Music and Collective Access Symposium (Feb 27-28, 2026). Today, meet the co-organizer Dr. Diane Kolin, a French-born Canadian singer, a music educator, and a voice teacher. She is the founder and director of ArtsAbly. More info and registration: musiccollectiveaccess.com.

Meet the team behind the Music and Collective Access Symposium (Feb 27-28, 2026). Today, meet the workshop facilitator Ellen Waterman, Professor and Helmut Kallmann Chair for Music in Canada at Carleton University. More information and registration on musiccollectiveaccess.com.

This ASL video presents the Music and Collective Access Symposium 2026, which will take place in Vancouver on February 27 and 28, 2026. Watch the full version produced by Pamela Witcher and her team: musiccollectiveaccess.com/asl-presenta.... Register: musiccollectiveaccess.com/registration/

Meet the team behind the Music and Collective Access Symposium (Feb 27-28, 2026). Today, meet the workshop facilitator Jesse Stewart, a composer, percussionist, artist, and Head of the Carleton University Music program. More information and registration on musiccollectiveaccess.com.

Meet the team behind the Music and Collective Access Symposium (Feb 27-28, 2026). Today, meet the co-organizer Dr. Anabel Maler, a scholar of music theory with interests in music and disability studies, music in Deaf culture, and the intersections of music theory, musicology, and ethnomusicology.

Meet the team behind the Music and Collective Access Symposium (Feb 27-28, 2026). Today, meet the keynote speaker Pamela Witcher, a multidisciplinary artist, director, mentor, interpreter, translator, cultural mediator and curator. More information and registration on musiccollectiveaccess.com.

Meet the team behind the Music and Collective Access Symposium (Feb 27-28, 2026). Today, meet the workshop facilitator Gaitrie Persaud-Killings, a Tkaronto-Guyanese, Deaf music performer and IBPOC/QIBPOC activist. More information and registration on musiccollectiveaccess.com.

Meet the team behind the Music and Collective Access Symposium (Feb 27-28, 2026). Today, meet the co-organizer Dr. Stefan Sunandan Honisch, Sessional Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Film, and Scholar-In-Residence at St. John’s College, at the University of British Columbia.

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 is now published. The event is free but registration is mandatory. Visit www.musiccollectiveaccess.com for more information.

Check out the episode 55 of our podcast “ArtsAbly in Conversation” with Eric Whitmer, a third-year Ph.D. student in Musicology at the University of Michigan. Find the podcast episode here: www.artsably.com/episode-55-a... #ArtsAbly #arts #disability #accessibility #DisabilityArts

As part of the podcast series, “ArtsAbly in Conversation,” Diane Kolin interviewed Eric Whitmer @ewhitmer.bsky.social, a third-year Ph.D. student in Musicology at the University of Michigan. Visit www.artsably.com/interview-re... to check out the resources mentioned during the conversation.

Check out the episode 54 of our podcast “ArtsAbly in Conversation” with Robyn Rennie, a visual artist living in New Brunswick in Canada. Find the podcast episode here: www.artsably.com/episode-54-a... #ArtsAbly #arts #disability #accessibility #DisabilityArts #AccessibleArts #InConversationWith

The Disability Screen Office recently launched the Industry Resource Hub, a brand-new, free platform to help make Canada’s screen industry more accessible and inclusive. The link to DSO’s hub is available here: www.dso-orphe.ca/en/industry-... #ArtsAbly #arts #disability #accessibility

As part of the podcast series, “ArtsAbly in Conversation,” Diane Kolin interviewed Robyn Rennie, a visual artist living in New Brunswick in Canada. Visit www.artsably.com/interview-re... to check out the resources mentioned during the conversation. The podcast episode will be published on Friday.

Check out the episode 53 of our podcast “ArtsAbly in Conversation” with seeley quest, a trans disabled environmentalist, arts and equity educator, living in Toronto in Canada. Find the podcast episode here: www.artsably.com/episode-53-a...

As part of the podcast series, “ArtsAbly in Conversation,” Diane Kolin interviewed seeley quest, a trans disabled environmentalist, arts and equity educator, living in Toronto in Canada. Visit www.artsably.com/interview-re... to check out the resources mentioned during the conversation.

The ArtsAbly team wishes you a Happy New Year 2026! We are back to the office with a new series of podcast episode. This week's guest will be announced tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Our latest newsletter, "ArtsAbly's Bulletin," starts with an open conversation article about accessibility for singers in choirs. You will also discover five 2025 highlights, and some news about the upcoming Music and Collective Access symposium in February 2026. tinyurl.com/artsably-dec...

Only five days left before the submission deadline of the Call for Papers for the Music and Collective Access Symposium. Don't forget to submit your abstract, and don't hesitate to share the call for papers: tinyurl.com/music-access.

The Call for Papers for the Music and Collective Access Symposium is till open. If you have questions, don't hesitate to send an email. Don't hesitate to share the call for papers published on various platforms including ArtsAbly's website: tinyurl.com/music-access. Deadline: December 15th, 2025.

Don’t forget about our Call for Presentations. Presenting remotely is possible. We also welcome performers who want to talk about their work. Contact me or my colleagues if you have any questions. Looking forward to reading your submissions 🙂

We are delighted to announce the Call for Papers for the Music and Collective Access Symposium (February 27 & 28, 2026). Don't hesitate to share with your networks. The full CfP is published on various platforms including ArtsAbly's website: www.artsably.com/call-for-pap...

Thank you to my colleague Roman Romanov for inviting me to present ArtsAbly’s public art accessibility assessment work to his students at OCAD University. I had the pleasure of giving feedback on students’ final project presentations, with conversations about the importance of accessible designs.

Artsably will be the subject of Diane Kolin (@dianekolin.bsky.social)'s talk at the AMS and SMT conference in Minneapolis, on November 8 at 12:30 pm. If you attend, come and say hello to Diane!

Congratulations to The Disability Collective for the 2025 DisCover conference! Two days of conversations about arts and disability, all the arts trade were represented. Each presentation and panel brought artists of the disability and Deaf community to discuss these important topics together.

ArtsAbly’s Monday Highlights: You have heard their stories in the past episodes of "ArtsAbly in Conversation," but what are they doing now? This week, we share A. Laura Brody’s activities with Opulent Mobility.

This week, we share Lawrence Shapiro’s new book, "The Physically Disabled Dancer and the Affirmative Model of Disability" (Routledge, 2025). Based on interviews with physically disabled dancers, choreographers and academics, it combines a wide range of perspective of disability dance.

Events like orchestral concerts are often difficult for low-vision attendees, but not at this show. It was “audio described” and included a pre-concert tactile tour facilitated by team members from the Auckland-based company Audio Described Aotearoa. www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/3606...

ArtsAbly’s Monday Highlights: This week, we share Dr. Stefan Sunandan Honisch’s interview by Salli Carter in The Educator Experiences podcast. At its heart, this conversation asks educators to reflect on how we can change so that inclusivity isn’t an afterthought, but the foundation.

Public art in the city is important access and accessibility are rarely considered for public installations. One of ArtsAbly's tasks is to work with organizations and partners to ensure art becomes accessible to all. What is your accessibility experience of public art installation in your city?

Issues raised from the 2024 concerts included not being able to see the stage, a lack of accessible toilets and cobbles and cables in the accessibility lane. Cuffe & Taylor said it wants to "improve facilities for customers with accessible requirements". www.bbc.com/news/article...

Despite its reputation for innovation, the performing arts industry is overlooking a critical form of talent: artists and professionals with accessibility needs. This article explores the barriers they face and the solutions they utilize. www.forbes.com/sites/billsc...

Disability Arts Online (DAO) has unveiled dis_place, a pioneering digital gallery that breaks new ground in accessible exhibition-making. The platform reimagines how art can be experienced online prioritising accessibility. The article is available here: criplife.co.uk/disability-a...

Our "Back to Work" newsletter is out! We highlight a few of our summer activities and recommend two events from our colleagues, Outside the March @outsidethemarch.bsky.social and Sawchuk Accessible Solutions. Check it out! www.artsably.com?mailpoet_rou...

Congratulations to the team of Outside the March @outsidethemarch.bsky.social for their spectacular and fantastic show “Rainbow on Mars.” We highly recommend it. Info to book your ticket and promo code below.

Our office for the weekend. Check out the schedules of the festival at fabcollab.ca At The Village at Black Creek, Toronto.

Today and tomorrow, ArtsAbly will be present at the Village at Black Creek for a dance and music festival organized by FabCollab. Entrance is free. The shows start at 11:30am. Remember to wear sun screen and bring water! For a full schedule and downloadable accessibility guide, visit fabcollab.ca

ArtsAbly is the accessibility advisor of FabCollab’s “Music in the Village” at The Village at Black Creek. Come and experience two days of live music and dance performances by woman and gender diverse-led artists, along with a traditional welcome by Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers.

From our community partner: Devon Healey and @outsidethemarch.bsky.social ‬invite you on an odyssey into the mystery and splendour of Blindness in this world premiere of RAINBOW ON MARS, August 9-20, in Toronto. Promo tickets available for ArtsAbly's audience: www.artsably.com/rainbow-on-m...

It was a privilege to attend the inauguration of Biidasige Park as a member of Waterfront Toronto’s Accessibility Advisory Committee. This park is the largest green space to be created in the downtown City of Toronto in a generation. Congratulations to all the contributors.

Accessibility assessment in Black Creek Pioneer Village (now The Village at Black Creek) for a two days music and dance festival in August organized by FabCollab.

The latest edition of ArtsAbly's Bulletin, our newsletter, is out. You can find it here: www.artsably.com?mailpoet_rou... Stay up to date by subscribing to ArtsAbly's bulletin at the bottom of our home page: www.artsably.com

ArtsAbly is out of office! Our team is taking a break for the summer and will return from holidays on August 18th. We hope you all have a restful summer holiday!

Happy Disability Pride Month! ❤️💛🤍🩵💚🖤 🎙️ Check out the special 50th episode of our podcast “ArtsAbly in Conversation” featuring an invited panel of 12 previous guests! Find the podcast episode here: www.artsably.com/episode-50-a...

Check out the newest episode of our podcast “ArtsAbly in Conversation” with Riccardo Baldini, a pianist, innovator, and entrepreneur living in Edmonton in Canada, also featured in CBC’s “PUSH.” Find the podcast episode here: www.artsably.com/episode-52-a...

Design and Disability showcases the radical contributions of Disabled, Deaf, and neurodivergent people to contemporary design and culture from the 1940s to now. The article is available here: www.vam.ac.uk/articles/des...