"WIT's information/ disability officer, Rachel Stelmach, also a Disability Equality Trainer, has this year (2004) organised and delivered Disability Equality Training to all WIT staff and committee members. The ethos of equality of opportunity for women and girls to participate in music and other related arts activities is not just a commitment on paper.
WIT offers every woman who wants to come, the opportunity to be at WIT Festival. WIT's responsibility then is to consider what this would mean to the individual, as well as the Festival as a whole. The organisation itself has to think in terms of practical and financial feasibility. It is only by a process of consulting with disabled women in advance that Women in Tune have managed to successfully meet the very diverse range of access requirements.
Rachel successfully applied to the Lloyds TSB Foundation for funding in 2003 to further improve disability access facilities and services, as well as to put on a Disability Arts Cabaret at the Festival. The Disability Arts Project was a huge success, which was not only of benefit to disabled women, but to all festival participants, staff, committee and volunteers. Our inclusive ethos extends from grass roots, the participants, right through to staff, committee, crew, artists and technicians. At every level our ideals are being achieved in a very real and tangible way.
WIT recognises that women in general, as a group, do not always have equal opportunities in music, and related arts activities. Beyond this initial inequality, which resulted in the constitution of Women In Tune as an organisation, they have discovered that many more inequalities existed. They have made a commitment to be equality-aware and have taken up the challenge to address the varied needs of the women and girls who want to attend the events. All women and girls are welcome regardless of their physical ability, musical ability, ethnic background, sexuality, or financial situation.
Having made the events accessible, WIT were able to offer women many more opportunities: to try out new things, learn new skills, improve their self confidence and create important, lasting sustainable networks with one another. WIT has created a safe friendly environment that can support and encourage all women to have a go.
WIT has Regional Contacts in many major cities across the UK. These are groups of women who met at the Festival and who continue to meet with each other throughout the year. This came out of their need to continue to meet up, make music with, and network with others, in this friendly supportive way. On an 'access to information' level, it allows Women In Tune to keep in touch with its participants. WIT also has a web site, e-newsletter, and quarterly newsletter, which any woman or girl who has been to WIT Festival is welcome to contribute to.
In London between the Festival 2000 and WIT 2001, a few women formed a band in readiness to appear on the Open Stage the following year. Many regional groups also get involved in fundraising events. Again, London had planned two fundraising performance events, which were all-woman run. Women provided everything from the sound engineering to the DJing, and live music and dance at an excellent standard.
WIT gigs themselves are generally open to a mixed audience of men and women. This allows other people to see first hand that women can do it too, an important first step in the direction of gender equality. The group's slogan could easily read "Women who do WIT, do it".
As well as the annual Festival, and regular performance events, WIT also offers a Music technology programme. This is Open College Network accredited training in DJ Skills and Live PA, held at various locations in Swansea and West Wales. Funded by the Arts Council of Wales, each course consists of a series of user friendly workshops, in a relaxed and non-competitive environment. All courses are held at venues that are wheelchair accessible, and are financially accessible too, as well as offering help with child-care costs.
Written by Miranda Betts from WIT
