(dis)Abilty: An Art Showcase
Kitchener Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
(dis)Ability: An Art Showcase highlighted the creativity of 29 artists with lived experience of disability, who submitted 52 works spanning painting, collage, digital art, photography, handiwork, and poetry. Initiated and co-coordinated by KPL’s Accessibility Advisory Group, the exhibition embedded audio descriptions of every artwork on the library website and through QR codes in the gallery, making the entire showcase accessible for people who are blind or partially sighted. The project modeled inclusive curation, fostered belonging, and acted on commitments from KPL’s Accessibility Plan and Strategic Plan. The Showcase exemplifies how libraries can transform accessibility policy into practice, elevating marginalized voices while innovating digital accessibility and community governance.
Challenge/Opportunity
People with disabilities remain underrepresented in cultural spaces, including art galleries.
Barriers exist for blind and partially sighted individuals to engage with visual art.
Public libraries often lack frameworks for embedding accessibility into cultural programming.
Opportunity: act on commitments in KPL’s Accessibility Plan (2023–2025) and Strategic Plan (2025–2028) to advance equity, inclusion, and wellbeing outcomes.
Opportunity: build authentic community leadership by empowering the Accessibility Advisory Group to co-conceptualize and co-curate an exhibition.
Key Elements of Innovation
Structure: Co-led by Accessibility Advisory Group (volunteer community body with lived disability experience) and KPL staff.
Implementation: Open call for submissions; inclusive acceptance of all physical works; professional gallery installation; audio description created, recorded, and embedded online and in-gallery via QR codes.
Activities: Exhibition May–July 2025; Meet the Artist Night during National AccessAbility Week (80+ attendees).
Partners: Community artists, disability advocates, AAG, KPL staff.
Unique & Cutting-edge: First time KPL embedded digital accessibility into a gallery program; authentic governance by disabled community members.
Innovation: Low-cost, replicable model for equity-centered exhibitions integrating accessibility technology, inclusive curation, and community-led design.
Achieved Outcomes
29 artists, 52 works exhibited; all submissions accepted.
Over 80 attendees at Meet the Artist Night; hundreds more visited the exhibit.
Audio description webpage: 913 visits; Facebook announcement reached 16,300 views.
Outcomes:
-Artists expressed gratitude for professional recognition and accessible curation.
-Visitors reported deepened empathy and challenged stereotypes around disability.
-Accessibility Advisory Group strengthened as trusted co-creator.
-Advanced Accessibility Plan goals and Strategic Plan outcomes (Leisure & Culture, Community Vitality).
Feedback: Community partners praised the showcase’s inclusivity and expressed strong interest in future iterations.
