UNIVERSITY ART COLLECTION

POLICY FRAMEWORK

Access Policy 2023-25

1.Statement of General Principles

The University of Warwick is committed to maximising access to its Art Collection of modern and contemporary art. We believe the Art Collection is for everyone, regardless of ability, age, cultural or social background, gender, faith, language, location, sexual orientation or wealth.

We offer broad, rich and engaging access for all our users, addressing the barriers that can prevent people from engaging with our buildings, collections, website, social media channels, programmes and staff.

We implement risk assessments to manage any competing demands of access and care of collection items. We mitigate risk to the object while maximising public access and are committed to ensuring no object is inaccessible.

The University of Warwick recognises that access is a complex issue that must be addressed through the actions of the organisation as a whole, and that access provision benefits all people, not just those with specific needs. All fire marshals, uniformed staff, and staff trained in first-aid are trained in the delivery of emergency procedures, including evacuation, for people with disabilities.

This policy is consistent with the University of Warwick’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies 2020-24. The University develops a range of Equality Objectives every four years, in line with the University strategy and duties under the Equality Act 2010 Link opens in a new windowand the Public Sector Equality Duty. The objectives are developed in consultation with the Warwick Community and progress is reported to the Social Inclusion Committee, which is a joint committee of the Senate and Council.

2.Scope

We offer everyone the widest possible access to the University of Warwick’s Collection of over 1000 modern and contemporary ceramics, drawings, paintings, photographs, prints and sculptures, which is on open display, sited in the public spaces of the University of Warwick campus in Coventry and in Wellesbourne.

3.Removal or mitigation of barriers to access

Ways to overcome the barriers to access are considered in the development of all displays and engagement initiatives.See Appendix 1.

4.Employment and training

The University of Warwick’s employment practices do not discriminate against people with disabilities. The University of Warwick Human Resources department monitors and reviews procedures.

Curatorial staff attend in-house training and training delivered by museum organisations and specialist agencies to ensure best practice in developing access to the Art Collection.

5.Process for review, recommendations, implementation and evaluation

The Curator is responsible for ensuring access to the Art Collection. The implementation and evaluation of access strategies are reviewed in the annual report presented to the Art Collection Committee and approved by the University Council.

Recommendations are incorporated into the development plan for implementation by the curatorial team or progressed by the University Accessibility Officer in the Estates department or by the University Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager in Wellbeing Support Services, as appropriate.

The University Art Collection upholds the statutory requirements of the Equality Act (2010) by taking reasonable steps to ensure that policies, practices and procedures do not discriminate against disabled people; auxiliary aids and services are provided to enable disabled people to use the Art Collection and the University Estates team removes, alters or circumvents physical barriers that affect access to displays.

Access provision is reviewed through user surveys and feedback which are sent to the University Estates Accessibility Officer who also arranges specialist audits. Recommendations for substantial improvements go to the Capital Space and Amenities Group for consideration and approval.

This Access Policy is reviewed every two years in the following academic years:

2023-24

2025-26

2027-28

 

Sarah Shalgosky

Curator

November 2023

Appendix 1

 

Barriers to access considered in the development of all displays and engagement initiatives with checklist of ways to remove or mitigate them.

Attitudinal

Some people may have a lack of interest in, or awareness of, the Art Collection or our programmes and services. They may feel they need some level of permission to enter the university campus.

Checklist includes

·our promotional activities present the museum as a welcoming, nonthreatening, inclusive destination

·staff in public facing roles ensure that visitors are made to feel welcome on arrival and are put at their ease

·initiatives connect with other areas of interest and are developed with community partners so that people feel comfortable, valued and able to engage at their own pace and level

Cultural

Some people may feel that the museum is not relevant to them and does not reflect their cultural or social heritage, or their interests

Checklist includes

·The development of the Art Collection is visibly relevant to the culturally diverse society of the University and Coventry through the acquisition policy and prioritisation of displays of culturally diverse work in prominent public spaces.

·People from different cultures are involved in the development of activities and resources.

·The imperatives of different cultural calendars are respected in the timing of events.

Economic

Some people may not be able to afford to visit the campus or take part in our programmes.

Checklist includes

·Free access to the Art Collection, 365 days of the year, is prominent in all promotional material.

·Information about access by public transport and cycle routes is included on our promotional material

·Information about every single work is freely available on-site. Where charges for activities apply, there is a flexible range of prices and ticket types.

Geographic

Some people will live too far away to visit the Art Collection or have no ability to get to the campus. Some buildings are not open access to visitors

Checklist includes

·The Art Collection has a dedicated website which is part of the larger University of Warwick website. See https://warwick.ac.uk/services/art/. It is up-to-date and there is an entry for each of the works in the Art Collection.

·Curatorial staff aim to respond to enquiries within five working days.

·The Art Collection Committee is pre-disposed to loan works of art for exhibition at other not-for-profit organisations, as long as the security of the works is maintained and access is a priority for the organisation.

·We work with the Estates team and departments to ensure that works are installed in buildings that can be entered by visitors.

Intellectual

Some people may find the Art Collection too specialist in its approach to subjects and how they are presented; some may have learning disabilities which affect their ability to engage with the Art Collection; and some may not be able to read or speak English

Checklist includes

·All language used in activities, displays, educational resources, publications, website and social media channels is carefully tailored to the needs of their intended audiences.

·The content and delivery of learning programmes are tailored to the learning needs of their audiences. offering a range of entry points and different forms of engagement including non-verbal.

·We offer a layered approach to information and interpretation, with a range of entry points. These include:

oVisitor Story

oArtwork labels

oArtwork / display panels

oLeaflets about displays

oSculpture Park maps

oTrails around the Sculpture Park with interactive booklets

oGuided tours

oQR code links to the Art Collection website / artists websites

oArt Collection website with artist and object pages, resources and online exhibitions

oFamily Backpacks

oFamily Days

oSchools Events

oPractical, artist-led workshops

oDrop-in family activities

oBespoke tours and events that respond to particular audiences or themes.

Neurodiversity

People who are neurodiverse may find bright or noisy environments distressing. Information may only be available in a format unsuited to a person’s neurology. Activities may not provide any time or space for respite.

Checklist includes

·Information is presented in large, sans serif fonts. Where possible, images are used to reinforce information.

·Information about noisy places to avoid and quiet places where people can take their time is included in the Visitor Story and at touch points in the Arts Centre.

·Activities are relaxed and allow people to leave and return as necessary.

Physical

People with physical disabilities, limited mobility may not be able to access the campus, our website, social media channels or programmes

Checklist includes

·All our buildings, learning and event spaces, cafés, cloakrooms, toilets and information desks are accessible to wheelchair users and to people with assistance dogs. Most buildings have lift access to all floors. Displays are not located on floors where there is no lift access.

·Where it has not been possible to site external works of art adjacent to paved areas, we ensure that they are still clearly visible from paved areas wherever possible. If any aspect of display is not accessible via path access, we provide an alternative way to access it through online resources, handling materials, images, texts and staff talks.

·Physical access information is available online and at the Warwick Arts Centre Box Office, including details about blue badge parking and the provision of wheelchairs.

Sensory

People with hearing or visual impairments may not be able to access the museum, our website, social media channels or programmes

Checklist includes

·In collaboration with specialist organisations eg RNIB, resources include guides in braille, audio guides and mobile/built-in (Sennheiser infrared assisted listening system) equipment to facilitate access.

·Following an audit in 2023, panels with larger size type are replacing the smaller labels.

·Touch tours, tours with audio-description or BSL etc specifically designed for people with sensory impairments are offered regularly. Touch tours are available on request.

·The website meets the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) AA standard

Technological

People may not have access to a computer or the internet at home or use a mobile phone.

Checklist includes

·Resources are published in print form as well as on-line. They are installed adjacent to artworks, available from Warwick Arts Centre and distributed to organisations such as libraries as appropriate.

·Forms are available at Warwick Arts Centre allow visitors to give feedback.

·Stewards in the Mead Gallery and Arts Centre Operations Assistants are briefed to give and receive information and to carry out surveys.