Music fan starts online Commit To Access campaign to encourage venues to improve disability access to gigs

A MUSIC lover’s campaign for gig venues to improve accessibility for disabled fans has seen ‘amazing’ support from artists.
Belinda Dickins
By Belinda Dickins
Published 18th Nov 2020, 11:00 GMT
Left is Faith Martin, 19, and right is singer songwriter James HoltLeft is Faith Martin, 19, and right is singer songwriter James Holt
Left is Faith Martin, 19, and right is singer songwriter James Holt

Freelance writer and disability campaigner Faith Martin, from Landport, has been going to see live music since she was 12.

The 19-year-old, who was born with cerebral palsy, needs to use a wheelchair to get around and has found concert venues which are not properly equipped for this can cause a huge barrier to her enjoying the bands and artists she loves.

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Her new campaign called Commit To Access encourages artists and venues to help make live music accessible to everyone regardless of disability.

Faith Martin from Portsmouth has launched a campaign called Commit To Access, which encourages music artists to make shows more accessible for disabled music fans. Pictured: Faith Martin, 19, at a festivalFaith Martin from Portsmouth has launched a campaign called Commit To Access, which encourages music artists to make shows more accessible for disabled music fans. Pictured: Faith Martin, 19, at a festival
Faith Martin from Portsmouth has launched a campaign called Commit To Access, which encourages music artists to make shows more accessible for disabled music fans. Pictured: Faith Martin, 19, at a festival
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Faith said: ‘If I can get the artists involved to see what they can do, then I think the venues will follow suit.

‘I have all of this time [in lockdown], I’m just going to see if I can make things a little bit better for next year or the year after.

‘We have got to start somewhere - it’s about opening a conversation and seeing what we can do.’

Faith Martin, 19Faith Martin, 19
Faith Martin, 19
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Issues which Faith has personally experienced include being unable to buy accessible tickets online but phone lines being closed due to the pandemic, bars not having lowered sections for wheelchair users and toilets being upstairs in venues with limited access.

This campaign has already seen support from musicians such as James Holt and Fever, with other music industry professionals getting involved and sharing photos of them holding Commit To Access signs.

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Faith added: ‘It’s been amazing, I didn’t think it would take off as much as it did. We have got so many people getting involved.

‘There are so many people that can’t go to gigs, I just want to make sure as many people as possible can experience live music.

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‘The more we can make people aware of it, the better. There is so much we can do that’s so small that will make sure people can enjoy live music.’

When live music hopefully returns next year, Faith is aiming to organise a fully accessible gig no matter people’s requirements, to set the bar for the industry and address some common issues with access.

To find out more and support the campaign, search @committoaccess on Instagram.

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