Our Access Program
Luminato Festival is working hard to bring accessibility to the centre of what we do, in the hopes of making our festival accessible to all, but especially to the disability community, a community that has been historically excluded from arts spaces. Our access program is led by The Disability Collective with guidance from our diverse Access Advisory made up of several d/Deaf and disabled industry leaders. This fully disabled team strives to make Luminato Festival a global leader in arts accessibility and we are constantly searching for innovative and community led access solutions that bring equity to art in creative and exciting ways. We examine every angle of our practices and programming regularly to ensure that our festival is a safe, inclusive, and vibrant space for our staff and valued community.
• Access Hub, a comprehensive online resource that houses original content and accessibility program information.
• Audio Description of select live festival performances, as well as audio descriptions available online.
• ASL interpreted program descriptions on our website with specific context for Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences; select events are interpreted by ASL performers.
• Relaxed performances are offered for select programs.
• Access Guides, which use plain language to provide audiences, particularly neurodiverse audiences, with sensory details of programming.
Supported by
The Disability Collective
The Disability Collective (TDC) is the only fully disability-led multidisciplinary arts organization in Toronto. Dedicated to celebrating and showcasing work created solely by disabled artists, TDC strives to de-stigmatize disability and challenge perceptions of disability by providing disabled artists with paid opportunities to share their work in a variety of forms, along with actively advocating for and improving accessibility and inclusion in the Canadian arts community by providing disability consultation services. TDC is committed to strengthening the disability community's presence in the arts and creating a space where disabled artists can connect and grow their practices together.
The Disability Collective has worked alongside Luminato for the past 5 years to build capacity, understanding, and commitment to accessibility. Their consultative approach ensures that accessibility measures are not just implemented but are sustainable and become integral to our operations. They also create and deliver annual training programs that help staff better understand and serve audiences with diverse access needs.
In 2025, Luminato was proud to expand its partnership with The Disability Collective through a groundbreaking residency. As a Collective-in-Residence, TDC works with us year-round, providing in-house accessibility resources, training, and services. By working closely with our team, they will help ensure that our programming is delivered in the most inclusive and accessible way possible, setting a new standard for accessibility in the arts.
Youth Access at Luminato
Luminato Festival is dedicated to inspiring and empowering young people through the transformative power of the arts. Our youth programming provides meaningful opportunities for young audiences to engage with world-class performances and hands-on creative experiences.
In partnership with organizations like Community Music Schools of Toronto, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), and other local youth-focused groups, we offer students access to performances, workshops, and educational programs that spark imagination and foster a deeper connection to the arts. Our family-friendly events and youth-oriented activities are designed to be inclusive, dynamic, and engaging, ensuring that young people and their families can experience art in ways that resonate with them.
Luminato invests in the next generation of artists, audiences, and cultural leaders, building lasting connections to the arts that will inspire them for years to come.
Financial Access at Luminato
At Luminato Festival, we recognize that financial barriers should not prevent anyone from engaging with the transformative power of art. Ensuring financial accessibility is a cornerstone of our commitment to inclusivity, equity, and community connection.
Financial accessibility not only enriches the festival experience for attendees but also strengthens the cultural fabric of the communities we serve.
Through initiatives such as free events and partnerships that provide tickets to underserved communities, Luminato strives to make world-class art truly accessible to all. This approach reflects our belief that everyone deserves access to the joy and connection that art brings.
