This study focuses specifically on examining the opportunities and challenges experienced by people with disabilities in relation to the CCI.
The importance of the Cultural and Creative Industry (CCI) to job creation and economic growth, social cohesion and inclusivity, and cultural preservation are well established nationally and globally. Concerning the policy and legislative context, ensuring the vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, participate in and benefit from the CCI are core principles enshrined by the United Nations (as articulated in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - CRPD), South Africa’s National Development Programme (NDP) and Mid Term Strategic Framework (MTSF), and the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC), which align to human rights. However, despite laudable policy and programme intentions, challenges remain to ensure that disadvantaged groups (including persons with disabilities) participate and benefit equally from the opportunities in South Africa’s CCI sector, including access to facilities, services and support/ funding provided. Challenges are aggravated because persons with disabilities are poorly integrated socio-economically and are subjected to various forms of discrimination. These impact on the nature and extent to which persons with disabilities can participate in the CCI, as consumers and producers. Thus, this study focuses specifically on examining the opportunities and challenges experienced by people with disabilities in relation to the CCI. Specifically, a desktop study approach was used to examine policy documents, research reports and academic sources. The desktop study was complemented an assessment of selected CCI-related venues and facilities.
The literature shows that CCI has considerable socio-economic benefits but that these are not equally beneficial to all groups. For persons with disabilities, there are several barriers with groups being differentially culturally engaged. Disabilities combined with other forms of disadvantage (such as race, gender, age, income and levels of education) also impact on participation in the CCI. Studies also note the ‘disability culture’, which broadly refers to the shared values/ norms, experiences, behaviours and beliefs evident among persons with disabilities. CCI also has the potential to provide spaces with persons with disabilities to interact as well as co-experience and co- roduce products and activities. The importance of recognising, understanding and responding to different types of disabilities are also highlighted. Persons with disabilities face inequalities in the CCI in various ways with the primary forms being barriers/ challenges in relation to employment and the lack of opportunities, infrastructural impediments that limit access and experiences in terms of consuming offerings, attitudinal barriers of not feeling as if they belong, lack of accessible information, resource and funding constraints, and content and the representation of persons with disabilities. In terms of access to venues and facilities, the key issue arising from the audit undertaken is that most venues and facilities do not state services and support provided for persons with disabilities on their websites. Additionally, the focus tends to be almost exclusively on physical disability, specifically wheelchair parking availability and wheelchair friendly design. Other types of disabilities, such as visual and hearing impairment, are rarely considered.
Key recommendations focus on mechanisms to promote participation of persons with disabilities aimed at removing physical, social and financial barriers. The need for disability mainstreaming is foregrounded to institutionalise ensuring that needs are addressed and monitored. The role of technological advancements is also highlighted to improve access and empower persons with disabilities to participate in the CCI. Physical design and infrastructural development aspects that consider different types of disabilities, in relation to the built environment and facilities, are also noted as being critical. Training, skills and business development support for persons with disabilities are suggested. Further research is also advocated and includes the need for onsite assessments of venues and facilities. Reporting mechanisms integrated into a monitoring and evaluation system is recommended, which will guide disability-responsive planning and programme development, resource allocation, training and further monitoring. An accessibility checklist (with key aspects and indicators) is proposed which cover venues and facilities, internet access, employment, trained staff, medical support, projects/ programmes, policies, funding, content and audience development. Additionally, the importance of reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 disruptions and impacts on the CCI and persons with disabilities need to inform policy and programme review and development.
