We're looking for an Access Liaison Officer to work with and support artists and audiences who are Disabled, d/Deaf, neurodivergent and with long-term health conditions, bringing additional expertise and capacity into the team. They will lead on the accessibility of the festival, ensuring appropriate provision is available at exhibitions and events.

The Access Liaison Officer will lead on the accessibility of the festival, ensuring appropriate provision is available at exhibitions and events, that access information is communicated clearly and that opportunities for embedding creative access within artistic projects are encouraged and facilitated.

MAIN DUTIES:  

Access Infrastructure and Activity 

  • Championing access across the organisation, including working with the HR Consultant, Operations Manager and Front of House Manager to organise Disability awareness training and any other specialised Disability training for all staff and Trustees. 
  • Work directly with LB2025 artists to support and develop ideas for creative access into realised elements of their commissions, exhibitions or events. 
  • Support the Programme team to ensure audience access is prioritised and embedded in all artist projects – from project planning, through fabrication, and to display. 
  • Conduct research into care and Disability through attendance at relevant events and connecting with equivalent roles at other visual arts organisations and festivals. 
  • Undertake partner briefings around institutional care and collate findings into an Ethics of Care research document to be implemented at Liverpool Biennial and partner venues, examining what care looks like in practice and disseminating findings to peers and the sector. 
  • Participation in evaluation of Liverpool Biennial 2025 to understand the impact of this role, considering how we might embed learnings into the next edition.  
  • Attend monthly Diversity, Equity & Inclusion meetings along with other department leads and Trustees.

 

Administration 

  • Organise travel and accommodation for Disabled artists, artists with long-term health conditions, artist parents, and artist carers or support workers, making additional provisions for any access requirements. 
  • Ensure access requirements are considered during scheduling of events, site visits, etc. which involve artists with Disabilities or additional needs. 
  • Lead on the access riders for all artists, including collecting all information from artists, communicating these sensitively on a need-to-know basis with other team members, and actioning to ensure appropriate measures are put in place. 
  • Edit and proofread artist’s materials, as well as transcribing alternative documents received in alternative formats (I.e. audio or video) into Liverpool Biennial templates. 
  • Support Marketing Team in ensuring available access provisions are communicated clearly to audiences via Guide, event listings, website and map. 
  • Gathering relevant access information for artist visits to sites and stakeholder venues.   
  • Work with GDPR lead Director of Development, Marketing & Communications on the security of sensitive data, ensuring personal data is kept and managed legally and securely.  

 

Access Provisions 

  • Work with the Production Manager and Programme Manager to ensure all untraditional venues have appropriate access provisions put in place, including costing up access provisions, researching suppliers, requesting quotes and inputting to funding applications, budgeting etc.  
  • Organise and manage access provisions needed for artists and audiences including, but not limited to, BSL interpretation, audio description, alternative travel arrangements, captioning, translation, care facilities etc.  
  • Create an Access Guide for audiences including information for every venue, such as visual stories and detailing facilities, and for events so that audiences know what to expect.  
  • Being lead liaison with any access provision providers including contracting, hosting and managing payment via our financial processes. 
  • Work with Marketing and Communications team to ensure effectiveness and accessibility of all marketing material and appropriate targeted and relevant targeted marketing activity. 
  • Create easy read and other access-related documents as and when necessary. 
  • Lead on the creation and maintenance of sensory activities and items for audiences at venues which might form part of the Learning Programme. 

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

Essential 

  • Committed to inclusive practice, with a minimum of 2 years of working in a similar Producer/Learning role/promoting inclusive working 
  • Confidence to communicate with a wide variety of people including senior contacts, colleagues, artists and galleries 
  • Organised individual with the ability to clearly plan, work to deadlines, and set up new procedures within the context of a new role  
  • Familiarity with Access Riders and best inclusive arts practice 
  • Commitment to all aspects of equity and diversity, and the need for LiverpoolBiennial to be representative of its community and target audiences 
  • High level of proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel 
  • Some experience in managing budgets and processing invoices 

 

Desirable 

  • Proven interest in contemporary visual art 
  • Proven team working experience 
  • Lived experience of Disability  
  • Lived experience of caring responsibilities