‘Let me in!’ The artist inviting you to protest outside major art venues he can’t access
In Let Me In, Let Me Out, Hugo Flavelle takes audiences on a tour of galleries and theatres he has struggled in around Perth – creating a protest crossed with a mobile rave
TL;DR
- Hugo Flavelle, a 26-year-old artist who uses a wheelchair and has partial vision, created 'Let Me In, Let Me Out,' a performance piece involving a mobile rave and protest.
- The performance takes audiences on a tour of Perth's cultural institutions, including galleries and theatres, where Flavelle has encountered accessibility challenges.
- Key issues raised include the inability to read wall text due to small font size, lack of audio descriptions, difficulty with physical access, and inadequate accessible facilities.
- Flavelle's 'Wonderchair' is equipped with lights, sound, and projection equipment to amplify his messages and create a festival-like atmosphere.
- The performance aims to make audiences think about inclusion and the barriers faced by one in five Australians who live with a disability.
- Experts and consultants agree that Australia's culture sector needs significant investment and updated legislation to improve accessibility.
- A new arts and disability strategy and code of practice are expected to be released, offering more guidance for organizations.
- Perth festival commissioned the project, and none of the approached institutions declined to participate, seeing it as a 'cheeky, but very genuine, provocation'.
- The participating venues have released a statement expressing their shared commitment to improving access, choice, equity, and inclusion.