02.12.2019
We have declared Inclusion Day in the theatre sector
Theatre Info Finland TINFO – together with the Culture for All service, Ursa Minor, DuvTeatern, Globe Art Point and The Association of Finnish Theatres – has declared Inclusion Day, which will be celebrated on Friday, 27th March 2020. Inclusion Day is a campaign that involves – among other things – a declaration and a questionnaire for government-subsidised theatres (so-called VOS theatres). The questionnaire surveys diversity in personnel, programmes and other arts-based activities in theatres.
The goal of the Inclusion Day campaign is to draw attention to equal opportunities for artists and other dramatic professionals and accessibility of theatrical experiences for everyone. We are asking whether equality and equal opportunities are actually realised. For example, who are the people we see on stage and in other professional roles in theatres? In the campaign, we will bring attention to well-implemented performances, such as a sign-language theatre and other productions where actors with different functional capabilities are in the limelight.
Cultural and linguistic diversity in recruitment increases the societal impact of theatres.
The theme of the campaign is inclusiveness in the theatrical field both from the actors’ and from the public’s point of view. A well-functioning theatre provides accessibility and diversity, starting from the built environment and communications through to programme planning.
Accessibility in theatre can mean regular pieces that are made accessible via subtitling, audio description or sign language interpretation. In order to achieve equality in recruitment, positive discrimination may be applied to a person who – for example because of a disability – is in a weaker position on the labour market. Cultural and linguistic diversity in recruitment increases the societal impact of theatres.
Invitation to theatres and people engaged in theatre
World Theatre Day, traditionally celebrated on 27th March, celebrates theatre as an art form, which in its essence, includes ambitions towards equality. In Finland, we want to bring the theme of inclusion in alongside World Theatre Day and make this important theme an integral part of the day.
More information about the campaign will be available at the beginning of 2020. It's worth familiarising yourself with the subject.
We invite all theatres and people engaged in theatre to join the Inclusion Day campaign!
#worldtheatreday #inclusionday
For more information please contact:
TINFO / Hanna Helavuori, hanna(at)tinfo.fi, +358 44 363 1722
The Culture for All service / Outi Salonlahti, outi.salonlahti(at)cultureforall.fi, +358 40 963 9908
Ursa Minor / Noora Karjalainen, noora(at)ursaminor.fi, +358 45 7871 3401
Julistimme Inkluusiopäivän teatterialalle (original text in Finnish)
More information on the materials produced by the Culture for All service
In Finnish:
http://www.kulttuuriakaikille.fi/saavutettavuus_tietopaketit_ja_oppaat_teatterit
http://www.kulttuuriakaikille.fi/saavutettavuus_esimerkit_ja_kokemukset_teatterit_ja_tanssi
In Swedish:
http://www.kulttuuriakaikille.fi/tillganglighet_guider_teatrar