Benchmark Analysis: Accessibility Initiatives

July 11, 2023

As organizations continue to work towards greater inclusion in the arts, we want to learn specifically about the kinds of efforts and investments institutions have made around accessibility for both in-person and digital experiences.

Our latest Arts Leader Survey asked arts leaders to benchmark themselves on the current trends in digital and on-site accessibility. Highlights from the survey include:

• About three-quarters of organizations have increased their financial investment in improving accessibility over the past 5 years.

• Most organizations take a cross-functional approach to accessibility initiatives, either with multi-departmental teams or ad hoc working groups from across the institution.

• Among digital accessibility initiatives, organizations report feeling most advanced in their use of alt-text for web-based images and closed captions for video content.

• Nearly all organizations provide on-site wheelchair access and accessible restrooms; half offer hearing loops and sign language interpreters to visitors.