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Innovation Fund Invests in Accessibility through People, Space & Technology

Charles G. Baldwin, Program Officer

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photo from a theater rehearsal. In the foreground a young man is on his hands and knees, his right hand raised in a triumphant fist, he's looking up and his face is beaming. In the background are other actors also on their hands and knees.
Access to Theatre at Partners for Youth with Disabilities.

As Mass Cultural Council looks to determine best methods for growing and supporting Accessibility across the creative and cultural sector, UP Designated Organizations are providing insight into effective and innovative approaches to the work. In FY25 the Agency is awarding 93 UP Designated Organizations a total of $465,000 through the Innovation Fund.

As part of the Universal Participation (UP) Initiative, the Innovation Fund offers annual $5,000 grants for UP Designated Organizations to plan and implement accessibility systems within their organization.

Building innovative solutions to address access barriers are self-defined by the current practices of each UP Designated Organization. This funding looks to go beyond compliance to inspire direct actions and fresh ideas.

Examples of Innovation Fund projects include:

  • 2nd Act expanded the expertise of their teaching artists to provide them with skills related to trauma informed classroom management, mental health first aid, and learning differences competency. For this professional development the executive director worked in consultation with their Recovery Friendly Workplace Committee, organizational stakeholders who ensure the voices and experiences of people in recovery from Substance Use Disorder are included in program development.
  • Historic Deerfield rejuvenated their Visitor’s Center at Hall Tavern, creating a more welcoming and accessible experience. This upgrade included updating printed text materials, installing a modern hydration station, captioning orientation videos, providing new and varied seating, and building a tablet kiosk for daily activity guidance.
  • Williamstown Theatre Festival made a commitment to improving their accessibility for the hearing-impaired community by purchasing new charging stations for their assisted listening device system and by investing in staff with passion and experience for making theater accessible. The improved technology and staffing created better experiences for their patrons.

With the launch of the Agency’s d/Deaf & Disability Equity Plan, determining the characteristics of UP Designation (what makes an organization successfully Accessible) is one strategy towards measuring impact and sustainability of the Agency’s investment.

This year each Innovation Fund grant recipients will complete the Arts and Culture Self-Assessment, developed by Open Door Arts, to assist them with developing Access Plans that are embedded in institutional strategies for readiness and resilience.

Mass Cultural Council has been hosting office hours throughout the fall to assist organizations in reviewing and examining this requirement and the resulting reports. Institutional agency and self-determination are key to achieving the aspirations of an Access Plan that strives for more than compliance and a list of accommodation services and technologies.

UP Designated Organizations – a community of peer learning since 2015 – will continue to provide data on effective practices to inform future Mass Cultural Council grantees about how to understand and enact the guiding principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A hearty congratulations to all the recipient organizations that strive for Universal Participation.

Complete FY25 Innovation Fund Funding List

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