Visual Impairment Awareness Training (Artists)

Extant have been leading training for artists, offering consultancy and creatively integrating access for VI audiences into our productions (ranging from theatre stages, to outdoor to immersive shows) for over 25 years.

We’re one of the Arts Council England recommended support organisations as part of their All In programme who offer access training and consultancy in the field.

A group of three participants standing in a workshop space all posing in different ways.

Visual Impairment Awareness Training (Artists) aims to support a wide range of theatre practitioners with the understanding, skills and confidence to plan and deliver workshops, classes and rehearsal room activity. This is to ensure the inclusion and enablement of blind and visually impaired collaborators.

VIAT (Artists) is 2 x 3 hour sessions and our training is grounded in the Social Model of Disability and the Equality Act 2010.

Content includes:

‘All questions are valid’ approach
Audio description and performance practice
Line feeding
Sighted guiding practice
Access and language

Participants have the opportunity to apply the work by trying out an activity relevant to their practice. This is followed by feedback from the facilitator.

The training is led by a visually impaired facilitator, supported by an access worker.

VIAT (Artists) has been delivered to:

Camden People’s Theatre, The Actors Centre, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Young Vic, ALRA, Drama Studio, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, RADA, Common Wealth Theatre, Improbable and many more.

Feedback from participants

“The conversations I feel I am able to have are more nuanced and deeper than before.”

“I found all the content invaluable and the relaxed style freeing.”

“Thank you, this was so brilliant. I have a new confidence and it has made me excited for future projects.”

Two young women - an East Asian and white woman walking side by side with a chopstick balanced vertically from each of their fingertips. Three other workshop participants are walking around the room.