Accessibility Rules and Regulations for Music Festivals.

Every music festival must operate their events within a legal framework regarding accessibility. The rules and regulations provide event access to those with disabilities and most organisers will exceed requirements. What are the legal requirements organisers need to be aware of and how do they implement accessibility best practice.

The legal framework can vary between regions and countries and the legal obligations for the UK, EU and USA probably cover the majority of music festivals that take place very year. Failure to comply with regulations can result in fines and legal action with the loss of reputation impacting on ticket sales and sponsorship deals. It is not just the legal framework that organisers must consider but they have a moral obligation as well with most festivals providing excellent accessibility options. 

Legal Obligations. 
The EU implemented the European Accessibility Act (EAA) in 2019 which provides standards for digital services, ticketing systems and electronic communications aimed at increasing inclusion. The UK implemented the Equality Act in 2010 which aims to get organisations and businesses to make reasonable adjustments to avoid disadvantaging people with disabilities and covers both digital services and physical accessibility. The United States introduced the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 and relates to making all public venues including outdoor events accessible to those with disabilities. The principle of the ADA is to provide equal access to facilities and entertainment venues. In addition to the regional legislation the UN also introduced the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2008 which has been ratified by most countries. The CRPD states that there should be equal access to cultural life which includes music festivals. 

Requirements for Festival Organisers. 
An appropriate interpretation of the legal framework is essential for music festival organisers to ensure that their events comply with prevailing requirements. All entrance gates, toilets and bathroom facilities should provide accessibility options for disabled festival-goers. Many organisers also provide dedicated viewing platforms and designated festival site parking for wheelchair users and registered disabled visitors. Organisers must also ensure that they have appropriately trained staff who can provide assistance if necessary and where possible make a provision for service animals and companion (carer) entry at discounted prices for example. Information both printed and digital should be provided in alternative formats (Braille, large print, audio) and websites must be accessibility compliant with WCAG 2.1. 

Recommended Implementation. 
For festival organisers keen to implement accessibility in a positive manner they can refer to initiatives like the UK’s ‘Live Events Access Charter’ which encourages access audits, access guides for festival-goers, onsite access information points and pre-registration for access requirements. When designing a festival site layout consideration should be given to accessibility especially regarding parking and facilities. Most organisers now post comprehensive accessibility policies on their websites along with contact details for more information. 

Whilst most music festival organisers fully endorse the principles of accessibility with many going above and beyond the legal requirements there may still be challenges for smaller independently run events. A small local festival may fail to implement the accessibility requirements either because of a lack of funding or simply because of ignorance of their legal obligations. 

For festival organisers planning their next event using a software management platform like Festival Pro gives them all the functionality they need manage every aspect of their event logistics. The guys who are responsible for this software have been in the front line of event management for many years and the features are built from that experience and are performance artists themselves. The Festival Pro platform is easy to use and has comprehensive features with specific modules for managing artists, contractors, venues/stages, vendors, volunteers, sponsors, guestlists, ticketing, site planning, cashless payments and contactless ordering.

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