This statement represents a living draft that welcomes feedback and conversation. We will update it as we continue to do this work. If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please email us at access@grunt.ca
“We understand that getting access can be tricky because everyone has different challenges. Our main aim is to really listen to people and learn from them.”
Working to understand the intersectional and dynamic nature of access, we actively seek to deconstruct barriers, acknowledge conflicting and complex access needs, and continuously improve our processes.
“We understand that the usual ways of doing things can be unfair and harmful. We also know that we’re not the only ones trying to make a change.”
We do this guided by our relationships with our audiences, staff, artists, and communities, with whom we are navigating the inherent violence and biases of colonial systems.
“Everyone is important for more than just their bodies or abilities. We know there is more than one way to do things.”
We work from a philosophy that celebrates bodies as sites of resistance against ableism that defy ascribing human value in terms of “dollars and cents” or based on productivity.
“We admit that we don’t know everything, and sometimes we might make mistakes. We’re always learning and sharing what we know.”
We do not position ourselves as experts and share what we are doing by modelling, engaging in open dialogue around our successes and mistakes, and training our artists and colleagues on how to uphold these practices while at grunt and beyond.