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Sharon Hodgson MP. Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Art, Craft and Design in Education, Dyslexia and SpLD.

"I am passionate about the rights of disabled children and young people as well as a great believer in the power of arts and culture to make a real difference to their education, health and wellbeing. The Cultural Manifesto is an excellent initiative which offers strategic leadership across the sector by supporting and promoting the excellent inclusive practice that exists and encouraging others to put the needs of young people at the heart of their work."

Royal Albert Hall

We, the Royal Albert Hall, commit to the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto because we fundamentally believe that all children and young people should have the right to access high quality arts and culture. Currently there is not equal access for children and young people with disabilities, and we are committed to working with partner organisations to address this across the arts sector. We recognise the power of arts and culture in supporting education, health and wellbeing for all young people. We believe that cultural organisations have the duty to reflect all of society, and we feel that the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto offers the opportunity to work strategically amongst a number of partners to ensure that we can do this to best effect

Anita Kerwin-Nye Lead - Every Child Should

The benefits of art, culture and access to heritage are well known. Across the country there are thousands of wonderful institutions that excel in their provision. But we know that children and young people with disability access these less than their peers. This reflects a common pattern where those that could benefit most from these rich resources are often those that access them the least and is a key theme of the Every Child Should campaign. The Cultural Inclusion Manifesto is a commitment to collaborate to improve access – indeed to make access an entitlement. This is more than physical access or support with communication – although these things are important and sadly still too often unaddressed. This is about children and young people with disabilities being both consumers and producers of art and culture and about seeing themselves, their culture and their heritage, in the work that these institutions display. It builds on the amazing work of Paul Morrow and the West London Inclusive Arts Festival.

Sir David Amess MP. Member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Learning Disability

"I am an ardent believer in the rights of disabled children and young people to access all the educational opportunities afforded to their non-disabled peers. This includes their engagement with a range of artistic and cultural experiences which enrich their lives and make an invaluable contribution to their health and wellbeing. I have seen this for myself in the wonderful and inspirational work done by the Music Man Project in my constituency. Their recent concert at the London Palladium showed the transformative power of music and both the Prime Minister and myself are impressed by the excellent service they provide to children and young people across the UK. This is why I am delighted to lend my support to this fantastic new initiative and look forward to seeing it deliver real and lasting change."

The National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD)

The National Society for Education in Art and Design is committed to the UNESCO Convention of the rights of a child which states that all children should have the right to: ‘join in a wide range of cultural, artistic and recreational activities’. The Cultural Inclusion Manifesto upholds this principle, aiming as it does, for better and more opportunities for children and young people with disabilities to engage with arts and culture. NSEAD is very pleased to support, endorse and share far and wide this important initiative and manifesto.

Rt Hon Ed Vaizey MP Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing & Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Art, Craft & Design in Education

As a former Minister for the Arts I am a passionate believer that the Arts can and should be used to transform the lives of young people. Our great cultural institutions in this country offer an enriching life experience to all those who visit and it is essential that all visitors are treated equally regardless of background, upbringing or disability.

I am delighted to add my support to the cultural manifesto and its excellent aims to develop strategic partnerships between SEN organisations and cultural institutions to ensure that enriching cultural experiences are available to all young people in the future.

Andrew Dismore London Assembly Member for Barnett and Camden

Throughout my career as a Councillor, MP and now London Assembly Member I have been an enthusiastic advocate for the rights of disabled people. I am immensely proud of the work that Action Space do in my constituency to engage and encourage artists with learning disabilities in collaboration with the Camden Arts Centre. The Cultural Inclusion Manifesto is an innovative initiative which seeks to ensure that opportunities such as these are available to all disabled children and young people across the UK and I wish them every success.

Baroness Nye Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Art, Craft & Design in Education

I am a fervent supporter of the arts and the vital role it plays in the education of our children and young people. Nowhere is this more evident than in the transformative impact that access to high quality cultural experiences has on pupils and students with special educational needs. It is crucial that our artistic and cultural institutions reflect the needs of all members of our society and I enthusiastically endorse the Cultural Manifesto and the commitment of its signatories to making this happen.

The@trical

Cultural inclusion is at the heart of everything we aim to do at The@trical. As SEN theatre specialists we want all young people with learning difficulties to be able to access the theatre and arts with the same level of freedom and flexibility that is afforded to their mainstream counterparts. Research proves that the arts is the perfect medium via which students can express emotions, communicate, engage, play and seek an understanding for the complex world in which they live. Inclusion is not just a right but a necessity for the work we do and we seek to give everyone an artistic platform through which they can achieve their goals.

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch Shadow Environment Minister & Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Art, Craft & Design in Education

As a former House of Lords Spokesperson for Culture and Shadow Education Minister I am a passionate advocate for the arts and culture and, in particular, the vital role they play in the education of our children. I have witnessed first-hand on school visits the importance of access to a range of artistic and cultural experiences. It is particularly crucial for disabled children and young people who not only benefit educationally from the arts and culture but also in terms of their health and wellbeing. This is why I am happy to endorse the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto and applaud the commitment and determination of the signatories.

The Music Man Project UK An award-winning, record-breaking accessible music service

We, The Music Man Project UK commit to the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto because...

We believe in providing the best possible education service specifically for musicians with a learning disability
We campaign for the equal rights of people with a learning disability to perform at the largest and most prestigious performance venues available
We support PhD research into the impact of our work at the Royal College of Music
We have witnessed the transformative effects of musical participation on our clients over 2 decades
We celebrate the uniquely expressive potential of musicians with a learning disability to entertain, educate and inspire the wider society

Caroline Pidgeon Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member

The arts and culture should be for everyone, including children and young people with Special Educational Needs. Yet for far too long access to the arts and culture for children and young people with disabilities has been overlooked and neglected.

The manifesto is an excellent initiative and the first stage of making real change. I endorse what it sets out to achieve in supporting and delivering inclusive practice throughout every area of London’s arts and cultural provision.

Claire Penketh Head of Department for disability & Education at Liverpool hope university and core member of the centre for culture and disability studies (CCDS)

As a department we are committed to working with and on behalf of disabled people. We employ disability studies and specifically cultural disability studies to support and further understandings of the role that disabled people play in enhancing our understanding of the relationship between culture and disability. We aim to go beyond ideas that promote support, extending thinking to promote a profound appreciation of difference.

Magpie Dance

Magpie Dance is the UK’s leading dance charity for people with learning disabilities. Our vision is ‘A world where a learning disability is no barrier to personal and artistic success in dance’.
Magpie Dance commit to the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto because we:

Are firmly committed to the rights of disabled children, young people and adults to access high quality arts and culture
Recognise the power of arts and culture in supporting education, health and wellbeing
Believe that all organisations have the duty to reflect all of society
Believe that The Cultural Inclusion manifesto offers the opportunity to work strategically amongst a number of partners to ensure that we can do this to best effect

Opera Holland Park

Inclusion is at the heart of Opera Holland Park and is actively promoted within our education and outreach programme, Inspire.
At Opera Holland Park, we are firmly committed to the rights of disabled young children and young people to access high-quality arts and culture and we recognise the power of arts and culture in supporting education, health and wellbeing.
All organisations have the duty to reflect all of society and the Cultural Inclusion manifesto offers the opportunity to work strategically amongst a number of partners to ensure that we can do this to the best effect.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP

I am proud to represent a constituency with a vibrant arts and culture scene. Whether it’s performing arts, galleries, live music or theatre, Brighton is a hub of talent and creativity. I believe it is vital that disabled children and young people have the opportunity to engage with all the fantastic experiences on offer both locally and across the UK. This is why I am happy to endorse the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto and commend the signatories for their commitment to making arts and culture accessible to all.

Baroness Hollins Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Learning Disability

I am a passionate advocate for the rights of disabled people and firmly believe they should have full access to a wide range of artistic and cultural experiences. I have witnessed both personally and professionally the transformative impact that inclusion can have on people with disabilities in all areas of their lives. I am enormously impressed by the fantastic work done by Access all Areas and proud of Beyond Words for supporting learning disabled artists and co-creators and removing barriers that prevent their voice from being heard. I am happy to endorse the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto and its aim of ensuring that all disabled children and young people can access opportunities such as these and contribute to the richness of artistic and cultural life in the UK.

Neil Coyle MP

I am a passionate advocate for the rights of disabled people and have spent my entire career campaigning to secure equality in all areas of disabled people's lives. Engagement with arts and culture can and should have a transformative impact on disabled children and young people. Arts and culture should make as huge a contribution to disabled children's education as other young people, and offers additional opportunities to enhances health and wellbeing as well as enrich lives. It is vital that all young people, and especially more disadvantaged disabled children, have full access to the wealth of artistic and cultural opportunities available both locally and nationally across the UK. I am happy to endorse the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto and applaud the signatories for their commitment to ensuring that this happens.

Caroline Russell Green London Assembly Member, Chair of the Economy Committee/ Green Group lead for the Economy

It is important that differently-abled people of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to curate, enjoy and take part in culture and the arts across London. The Cultural Inclusion manifesto offers a solution and welcome ambition to enable inclusive practices. I am pleased to see that the manifesto has the support of so many organisations across London and there is a great willingness to make the needs of differently-abled children and young people a priority

Marsha De Cordova MP Shadow Minister for Disabled People

As a disabled woman and Shadow Minister for Disabled People, I was proud to stand for election on a manifesto for disabled people that declared “Nothing about you, without you”. This also means full access to cultural life for disabled people - not just as spectators, but as active participants. The Cultural Manifesto is another step towards making this a reality for younger disabled people and allowing them to fulfil their full potential.

Eureka!

Here at Eureka! we've been running arts and activity clubs under our Access All Areas programme since 2012. We know from talking to disabled children and parents that their opportunities for arts are limited. We've run arts workshops for blind and partially sighted children, led by a blind artist which have been very popular. We're running an augmented reality workshop soon, facilitated by a disabled artist. We want to do more art activities led by disabled artists to encourage disabled children to develop their own artistic abilities. We look forward to learning from others' experiences and being inspired by the innovative artists and artworks out there. That's a long quote, but you can extract anything useful!

Royal College of Music London

As one of the world’s leading conservatoires and as Europe’s top Performing Arts institution, we are committed to the rights of disabled young children and young people to access high quality arts and culture. The RCM recognises the power of arts and culture in supporting education, health and wellbeing. We are therefore committed to the Cultural Education Manifesto.

The College is committed to an agenda that champions equality and diversity. As a leading British conservatoire, it aims to provide musical education and professional training at the highest international level to meet the aspirations of as many as possible of those who it deems to have the ability and motivation to benefit. Students are recruited on the basis of their musical merits, abilities and potential. The Royal College of Music aims to ensure that no student, member of staff or visitor to performances and other events is subjected to unfair discrimination, direct or indirect, arising from disability.

Drawing on the vision of Prince Albert for the advancement of the Arts and Sciences, the College’s strategic plan sets out a vision for providing access to an inspirational learning experience for the widest possible range of students. The RCM’s Access Agreement takes this vision forward. The College believes the area for most effective investment is outreach activity delivered by RCM Sparks, the RCM’s ground-breaking Learning and Participation programme which works closely with the Tri-borough Music Hub to widen access and inclusion. We believe that all organisations have the duty to reflect all of society.

Maria Miller MP Former Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport & Former Minister for Disabled People

My ministerial roles have included Minister for Disabled People and Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport. My experience has taught me that access to arts and culture is vital for disabled children and young people. It makes an invaluable contribution to their education, health and wellbeing. The UK has a thriving and vibrant cultural sector and I firmly believe that it should be accessible to all our children and young people without exception. That is why I am happy to support the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto.

Federation of Westminster Special Schools

The Federation of Westminster Special Schools understands the potency of cultural engagement for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Through our many partnerships, our young people can be seen, valued and included; their voices and stories are told and become part of our culture.

The ability to express and communicate, to develop autonomy and a sense of self is central to our mission as a Federation and this is greatly supported by arts and culture.

The creative arts empower young people; it supports their mental health and wellbeing and is an essential part of their education. We have developed and built a sense of community and celebration through the creative arts and have actively shared our experiences and achievements in collaboration with friends, parents and supporters. With our cultural partners we have promoted inclusion to a wider audience.

It is with great pride that I commit both schools to the manifesto with the knowledge of our involvement in its creation.

Andy Balmer - Executive Head

Old Royal Naval College

We, the Old Royal Naval College, commit to the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto because we firmly believe that access to high quality arts and culture by disabled children and young people is a right and not a privilege, and that museums, galleries and cultural organisations have an important role to play in ensuring this happens. We also believe in the power of cultural organisations to support education, health and wellbeing. Working, and learning, together is key to this and we welcome the opportunities to build partnerships to ensure that we continue to work towards being inclusive and accessible to all.

Voices Foundation

The Voices Foundation helps children and young people aged 0-18 to learn to sing and develop as musicians.
We want to make sure that no child is left out when it comes to learning to be a musician. It is proven that children who engage in high quality, regular musical learning from an early age gain musical, intellectual, emotional and social advantages. However, many children miss out on these benefits as they do not have access to any form of music education.
We help teachers and schools to ensure that music is an integral part of education from the early years.
The Voices Foundation wants to give every child the chance to discover their musical talent so that they are part of the next generation of musicians.

Sandra Bee Mother of an autistic gifted child

My son Genesis was assessed by his old School at age 4 showing skills of a child in Key stage 3. He then went to a School in NW9, who tried to fit him in their box. With the assessment from other School, they chose the ukulele for him, HE DIGRESS, with few chords and not his natural chosen instrument, which is the piano, (with, to compose, recreate and shine with lots of variation in sounds and KEYS!!!) Now age 6, Genesis should be able to express himself in his wired way. Music teachers should be aware of our children's difference and create around them to then reap rainbows. He is also showing a talent for painting, mixing colors heighten his sensory needs to create natural images of trees. My son who is expressing, lively and repetitive with a smile needs nurturing so his natural being can thrive.

Camden Arts Centre

Camden Arts Centre is committed in its aim to improve access to the arts for people with specialist needs. We do this through an inclusive, accessible and flexible practice and approach to working with schools, young people and artists. Our programme reflects this aim through our innovative SEN schools and youth programmes, our partnership with Action Space and on the importance we place on ensuring employment opportunities and progression routes for the young people and artists we work with. The Cultural Inclusion Manifesto sets out a series of beliefs that we stand by. This is important work. We know how transforming the arts can be; it fosters enjoyment, enthusiasm and engagement and brings people together. Signing the manifesto demonstrates our commitment to the pledges stated and in being part of a passionate and supportive group of individuals and organisations working towards sustained change.

Mousetrap Theatre Projects

We commit to the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto because we believe that all young people should have the opportunity to attend outstanding theatre, irrespective of their cultural, social or economic background, or level of SEND. Our mission is to increase young people’s access to the best of theatre in London – and our work with young people with disabilities is central to that goal.

As Mousetrap Theatre Projects we achieve measurable impact, but we recognise that more needs to be done to readdress the inequality - and that collaboration is key to creating a sector that is truly diverse, accessible and fair. In committing to this Manifesto we demonstrate our solidarity and desire to work with a wider network of like-minded organisations and partners to drive forward the much-needed cultural change.

Anonymous

Teacher & relative - "As a teacher and advocate for arts education, and aunt to two very special children with SEND, I have always believed in inclusive entitlement for all."

HOF in a large secondary school - "I believe that access to culture, cultural activities and experiences is a human right."

Arts education professional - "The arts should be inclusive for all. We are ALL part of our culture, everyone making their own unique contribution."

Educator - "I sign up to the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto."

Cultural Engagement Officer for young people - "Every child should have access to creativity. Without creativity, there is no vision. Without vision, there is no future. Every child deserves a future."

Professional - "I sign up to the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto."

Advocate - "I sign up to the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto."

Cultural Engagement Coordinator - "I sign up to the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto."

Learning Officer - We want as many people as possible to feel like they are part of what goes on in museums and galleries, to have a sense of belonging and excitement when they are there.

Works for a theatre company who work with people with learning disabilities I think children and young people with disabilities should have the same rights to access and participate in arts and culture and get the health and well being and social outcomes they offer.

Work for an npo that promotes diversity and inclusiveness in the performing arts - "I sign up to the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto"

Arts Council Employee Because I believe that all people should have access to good arts and culture.

Musician who identifies as a Person with a Disability. Head of Education and Training - Inclusion is about ensuring equity - that means that some young people need treating differently because of barriers to participation. As a performer and teacher, I am committed to providing equity for equality within the cultural landscape.

Teacher at an inclusive school
[I support the manifesto] because society as a whole needs to be more inclusive.

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Supporters of the Cultural Inclusion Manifesto