Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans have today launched a new accessible venues report, "Enhancing Accessibility: Venues and Visual Impairment," ahead of Scotland's summer festivals and Fringe in the capital. The report reveals significant gaps in accessibility and calls for comprehensive changes to ensure equal access for all.
Created by Sight Scotland's policy group, composed of blind and partially sighted members, the report draws on real experiences to offer recommendations for venues. Consultations took place with Summerhall, the Festival Theatre, and the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) in Edinburgh; the Scottish Event Campus and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow; and His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen.
The report highlights that many venues fall short in accommodating vision-impaired visitors. Common issues include ineffective communication, inaccessible booking systems, lack of audio descriptions or touch tours, untrained staff in sighted guiding and visual impairment awareness, and poor design features like inadequate colour contrast, tactile elements, and clear signage. The report also showcases best practices to inspire others to improve accessibility for visually impaired visitors.
Key recommendations in the report include:
- A standardised booking system for accessible seats at all Scottish venues.
- Mandatory accessibility standards.
- Implementation of audio descriptions and touch tours for all performances.
- Mandatory visual impairment awareness and sighted guide training for all staff.
Craig Spalding, Chief Executive of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, explains: "Ahead of the upcoming summer festivals and Fringe in Edinburgh, we are launching our report to emphasise the crucial need for accessible venues for people with visual impairments. We urge all venues in Scotland to recognise the importance of accessibility — not just for compliance, but to create inclusive experiences for everyone.
"This campaign, led by our policy group, calls for collaboration with venues to improve accessibility. Small changes can significantly impact cultural and social event inclusivity. Our report, based on the lived experiences of people with visual impairments, is a valuable resource for venues to understand and implement better accessibility measures."
Spalding adds: "Our report not only highlights areas for improvement but also showcases examples of best practice which venues are currently taking forward to improve accessibility for visitors with visual impairment. By demonstrating success stories, we hope to shine a light on the wonderful work already being done and inspire other venues to follow suit.”
Policy Group member Rosalind Preston comments: "It’s not too much to ask for someone with vision impairment to visit a public venue without causing disruption. We want to be treated fairly, make a seamless entrance, find a seat gracefully, and receive guidance confidently. Accessibility should be a prerequisite, not a choice."
Policy Group member Colette Walker adds: "Visual impairment should not prevent us from socialising, enjoying events, and participating fully in cultural activities. We deserve the same experience as everyone else."
Download the Accessible Venues report here: Accessible venues | Sight Scotland.
