‘Equality at the core of cultural services´ - register now!

The goal is to increase the accessibility of cultural services according to the extended approach to diversity. At best cultural services, events and products are designed from the very beginning to cater for all user groups and separate versions for audiences with special needs, such as disabled people or different age groups, may not be needed at all.

We believe that a genuinely inclusive and equal way of producing cultural services will not be achieved through good intentions only; it requires mastering the complexity of up-to-date information and know-how, functional tools and adequate interpersonal skills.

The project will provide access to latest UK expertise, help share best practices in Finland and the UK and enable cross-sectoral networking. This British Council initiative is partly funded by the Finnish Ministry for Education and Culture.

For whom?

This project is broadly aimed at all professionals active in the cultural field regardless of their respective field of art, audiences, operational model, or geographical location (public, private and third sector organisations). Training is especially beneficial to anyone working on content design and delivery, or audience engagement/education, as well as to directors of cultural organisations.

Project structure

The workshops will be built on two strands of our expertise - the hard core processes and structures of a diverse and inclusive organisation and the equally important soft skills needed from top to bottom in any organisation and service provider. The first workshop will focus on identifying diversity issues, and interpersonal and intercultural skills needed in a diverse working community and in customer service through a participatory and creative method. During the second workshop participants will be introduced to a hands-on toolkit on planning, delivering and measuring equality/inclusivity/accessibility of services and products.

In addition, we will produce a guidebook based on the workshops. The publication will be produced in Finnish, Swedish and English and all language versions will be distributed digitally free of charge.

Schedule

Workshop 1: Identifying and working with diversity. Intercultural and leaderhips skills.

Facilitator: Ms Maria Lyytinen, Intercultural skills trainer
Optional dates: Monday 25.2., or Tuesday 26.2. or Wednesday 27.2. at 9.00 - 16.00

Workshop 2: Tools for planning, delivering and measuring equal services and products

Trainer: Jane Franklin, Deputy Head Equality and Diversity, British Council
Optional dates: Monday 4.3., or Tuesday 5.3. or Wednesday 6.3. at 9.00 - 16.00

Open seminar and launch of the guidebook (June 2013, more info to follow)

Practicalities

The languages used in the workshops will be Finnish and English (interpretation to both languages can be arranged). All events will be held at Hotel Scandic Simonkenttä in Helsinki city centre, but we warmly welcome participants from all parts of Finland. There is no participation fee, but participants are expected to cover their own travel costs and lunches.

Please register by sending an email message to the address below with your preferred dates for each module. Do let us know if there is anything you would like us to take into consideration (dietary requirements, accessibility issues etc.). The registration closes on Friday 8 February, 2013.

Registrations and enquiries:

Hanna Klinge
Programme Director
British Council Finland
hanna.klinge@britishcouncil.fi
Tel. +358 40 5548 365