Event organisers, event management students and everyone who is interested in the issues are all welcome to attend.

10.30am: Virtual doors open.

10.50am: Welcome from Together! 2012 CIC Chair Julie Newman and virtual housekeeping.

11am: Disabled people are more vulnerable to Covid-19 and other infections, and this vulnerability is increased when access is poor. What actions can we take to minimise the barriers that Disabled people encounter at festivals and outdoor events, and ensure events are Equality Act compliant?

• Chair: Robin Surgeoner MBE.
• Together! 2012 CIC presents our publication Organising Inclusive Events – all ticket holders will be sent a copy – and our Metrics for Equality, Access and Inclusion.
• Organisation is everything when it comes to inclusion. Jim Winship, Secretary of The Events Industry Forum, presents EIF publication The Purple Guide to Health, Safety and Welfare at Music and Other Events and explains its role in supporting events organisers.
• Followed by a discussion joined by Steve Heap of the Association of Festival Organisations (AFO) with Live Chat.

11.55: Break.

12.05pm: The pandemic has taught us that we can engage directly with people at home. How can we continue to extend engagement with festivals and outdoor events to artists, arts workers and audiences who cannot attend in person because of health conditions or caring responsibilities? 

• Chair: Julie Newman.
• Together! 2012 CIC presents our Kitchen Carnival online project with Clary Salandy of Mahogany Carnival Design.
• Queer House Party present their work during and after lockdown.
• Followed by a discussion with Live Chat.

1-2pm: Lunch and networking via Zoom Rooms.

2-3.30pm (break 2.55-3.05pm): Audiences for online events during the pandemic have been uneven and often very disappointing, but the potential is unlimited. How can we grow online audiences for festivals and outdoor events, including targeting people who cannot attend in person due to geographic remoteness or because of health conditions or caring responsibilities? And how can we use online events to develop our brands and increase the number of events we produce annually? 

• Chair: Dr Ju Gosling FRSA.
• Global Carnival consultant Pax Nindi FRSA talks about Hackney Carnival at Home 2021.
• Rebecca Monks, Communications Manager at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society,, discusses how parts of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival were delivered online in summer 2021.
• Dr Adrian Leguina of Loughborough University and Dr Richard Misek from the University of Kent present their Arts and Humanities Research Council project on digital access to arts and culture during the pandemic and the future implications.
• Followed by a discussion with Live Chat.

3.30-4pm: Moving forward. A summary of the day and ideas for next steps.

All Festival events include BSL interpretation and live captions. See the full programme here: http://www.together2012.org.uk/together-2021-disability-history-month-festival/finding-solutions-together-conference-wednesday-24-november-10-30am-4pm/