Elevate is a biennial slow conference in inclusive, accessible and disabled-led arts in Kent & Medway, and beyond. This 4-week programme of events aims to raise the profile of accessible practice through networking sessions, seminars from guest speakers, skill-building workshops and artist platforms.
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Elevate prioritises inclusion through hybrid digital, shared-space and recorded events that offer a range of joining options. We embed access throughout with BSL interpretation, access support workers, visual stories, sensory toys and comfy chairs, and a delivery approach with a range of access needs in mind.
Alison Lewis
2023 Creation
Inspired by my own experiences of navigating conferences as an academic with chronic illness, I created and delivered Elevate in 2023 for a research fellowship with iCCi and Gulbenkian Arts Centre at the University of Kent, partnered by the Disability Arts Network Kent & Medway.
I wanted to find a way of sharing learning and research that didn’t leave people like me either missing out on activities to pace energy levels, or spending days recovering afterwards. I decided to create an event that worked around access needs so that the disabled artists and inclusive companies I worked with could learn from each other’s work, and share our expertise with other organisations looking to improve their own access offering.
I also wanted to create opportunities for emerging career artists who already faced barriers to work, to have paid platforms to share their artistry and grow their professional networks.
You can read more about my ideas in this iCCi blog post.
With funding and support from Arts Council England, Gulbenkian Arts Centre, Ideas Test and 1 Degree East, Elevate 2023 connected local and national organisations, and offered a new way of engaging in professional arts practice.
2025 Development
In 2025, Elevate grew, and our 75% disabled-identifying team worked with leading inclusive organisations including Unlimited and Stopgap, and connected with researchers from the UK and US to Brazil and Hong Kong.
Our reach increased with more than 400 people joining live events, and over 32,000 people engaging with our new digital arts platforms. But what makes us most proud is the difference we make to artists when they connect with other people like them for the first time, or help give them accessible space to grow their work.
“Thank you for what you do to make people like me feel "normal" and accepted. I know I am not judged here and that is priceless.” - attendee
“It was the first time for me that the neurotypical was in the minority. I felt like I belonged, I had space.” - attendee
We’re still learning about access literacy, but our data shows that we met over 80% of declared access needs, and we’re working to creating a crucial cultural shift in understanding of accessible & inclusive arts.
Elevate 2025 was supported and funded by:
Arts Council England, Gulbenkian Arts Centre, iCCi/University of Kent, Unlimited, Creative Estuary, Creative Medway, Ideas Test, 1 Degree East, Lyrici Arts, Inclusive Arts Network Kent & Medway (INK&M), Square Pegs Arts, Confidance, Attitude is Everything, and Centre for Dance Research Coventry University
What’s next?
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The next full Elevate conference is planned for spring 2027, but we’re hoping to deliver some extra activity in 2026!
Tickets for all events will be bookable through Gulbenkian Arts Centre’s What’s On page.
Follow our Elevate social media to keep up to date.
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Hilltop Visuals