For Immediate Release: March 10, 2005
Media Contact: Michael Norris, Art-Reach, Inc., 215.951.0316

Art-Reach, the nonprofit organization that facilitates access to the arts for people with disabilities and economic disadvantages, has enhanced and expanded its website at www.art-reach.org to make it a more effective tool for connecting underserved audiences with arts and cultural opportunities across the region.

The new features include an expanded and updated online version of Art-Reach's award-winning Access Guide and a Community Calendar of free and accessible arts events. "Part of our mission is to be a public resource on cultural accessibility for the Philadelphia region," said Art-Reach Executive Director Michael L. Norris. "The website is our most visible and public tool so we're really committed to making it as useful and comprehensive as possible."

Art-Reach has expanded the online version of its Access Guide, greater Philadelphia's premier resource on cultural accessibility, with new entries on 19 cultural facilities and updated entries on 35 existing venues. Each entry includes a detailed description of that cultural venue's physical and programmatic accessibility features, as well as general information about mission, hours and admission. Each participating venue received a thorough site visit from an independent accessibility consultant to ensure accuracy. With this expansion, the Access Guide now contains entries on nearly 140 cultural venues and other resources for the disability community.

The new Access Guide venues are: Act II Playhouse, the Annenberg Center, Appel Farm Arts & Music Center, the Curtis Institute of Music, the Garden State Discovery Museum, International House, the Independence Visitor Center, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center, the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, McCarter Theatre Center, the Mill at Anselma, Monroe Township Cultural Arts Commission, the National Constitution Center, Point Breeze Performing Arts Center, the Rosenbach Museum & Library, Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial, Wheaton Village and the Wood Turning Center.

Art-Reach has also added a Community Calendar to its website, listing arts events that are free and open to the public or that feature some type of programmatic accessibility beyond structural or wheelchair access. Programmatic accessibility includes signed or captioned performances for audiences who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and audio-described performances or touch tours for audiences who are blind or have low vision. Organizations interested in submitting arts events for the Community Calendar can download a listing form at www.art-reach.org/cal_community.html.

To view these new features or for more information about Art-Reach, go to www.art-reach.org or call (215) 951-0316.

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