At Untitled Group, we’re honoured and proud to produce Ability Fest – the world’s first fully accessible music festival in partnership with the Dylan Alcott Foundation [DAF], which launched in 2018.
The idea originated from our friendship with Dylan, a Paralympian and former Australian of the Year. Dylan grew up loving music festivals and wanted everyone to be able to experience them. After approaching us with his vision and the pillars behind why a festival like this is so important, we were in.
We’ve learned a lot since launching the festival six years ago, not only about the infrastructure elements required in order to put on an event like this but also about the importance of inclusivity in every aspect of event planning. I feel a profound sense of responsibility to create safe and welcoming spaces across all of our festivals and tours.
“Seeing people of all abilities dancing together and having the time of their lives is a humbling and inspiring experience”
All proceeds from the festival go to DAF, which gives young Australians with disabilities the opportunity to access resources, guidance, and education to succeed and achieve their dreams in life.
This year, Ability Fest is expanding to Queensland for the first time. Dylan received numerous requests to bring the festival to different states, and the Queensland government showed exceptional enthusiasm. Every expansion increases exposure for accessible and inclusive events, through first-hand experience, post-event media, and user-generated content.
Attending Ability Fest is a personal favourite of mine on the calendar. Seeing people of all abilities dancing together and having the time of their lives is a humbling and inspiring experience. One of my favourite moments was having The Presets perform in our second year, a huge moment, especially given their impact on the fabric of the Australian music industry.
Many come up to teammates and colleagues on the day to express their gratitude, making all the hard work over the years growing Ability Fest with the DAF feel even more worthwhile.
“People often just think about viewing platforms and accessible bathrooms. However, it’s so much more”
Dylan presents the DAF award each year on stage at the festival to one recipient. A heartwarming example is Cooper Smith, a young man with cerebral palsy. He received funding to pay for his DJ equipment at Ability Fest in 2021 and then went on to be booked to play at the festival in 2023. Through this exposure, he now performs at major events like Beyond The Valley, Finals Fest at the Australian Open as well as Melbourne club Revolver.
When we talk about accessible infrastructure, people often just think about viewing platforms and accessible bathrooms. However, it’s so much more. We’ve ensured there are sensory safe spaces, assistance staff, track matting across the site to create accessible pathways, Auslan [Australian sign-language] interpreters, iMAG screens of a specific size for optimal visibility, suitable site furniture, ticket collection areas, and bar and food offerings at accessible heights, among others. We apply the important attention to detail on frameworks that can often get overlooked, such as using a particular typeface on all event signage across site. This infrastructure and resourcing serve as a blueprint for other Untitled events, in collaboration with our access and
inclusion consultants Get Skilled Access.
When the event was conceptualised, we were in a different economic climate. Fast-forward to 2024, and the cost of producing events has risen significantly. It has become imperative for us to secure government funding and commercial partnerships in order to include all necessary accessible features, whilst also raising significant funds for the foundation.
“In this economic climate and given the state of festivals, the responsibility cannot be solely on promoters to implement the same standard of accessibility measures as Ability Fest”
While we’ve been fortunate to receive funding from Victorian and Queensland governments, it’s clear that the process to secure funding needs to be more attainable for promoters worldwide. People of all abilities deserve the right to enjoy live music. However, in this economic climate and given the state of festivals, the responsibility cannot be solely on promoters to implement the same standard of accessibility measures as Ability Fest.
I want to encourage promoters to pursue government funding to help cover the costs of organising accessible festivals and urge government bodies globally to invest in subsidising the costs associated with accessible infrastructure for public events.
The demand for accessible events is clear, and Ability Fest is a testament to what can be achieved with dedication, the right support, and access to government and partnership funding.
Fil Palermo is a co-founder and managing partner of Untitled Group in Melbourne.
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The demand for accessible events is clear
Untitled Group's Fil Palermo discusses the importance of Ability Fest, the world’s first fully accessible music festival
02 Sep 2024
At Untitled Group, we’re honoured and proud to produce Ability Fest – the world’s first fully accessible music festival in partnership with the Dylan Alcott Foundation [DAF], which launched in 2018.
The idea originated from our friendship with Dylan, a Paralympian and former Australian of the Year. Dylan grew up loving music festivals and wanted everyone to be able to experience them. After approaching us with his vision and the pillars behind why a festival like this is so important, we were in.
We’ve learned a lot since launching the festival six years ago, not only about the infrastructure elements required in order to put on an event like this but also about the importance of inclusivity in every aspect of event planning. I feel a profound sense of responsibility to create safe and welcoming spaces across all of our festivals and tours.
All proceeds from the festival go to DAF, which gives young Australians with disabilities the opportunity to access resources, guidance, and education to succeed and achieve their dreams in life.
This year, Ability Fest is expanding to Queensland for the first time. Dylan received numerous requests to bring the festival to different states, and the Queensland government showed exceptional enthusiasm. Every expansion increases exposure for accessible and inclusive events, through first-hand experience, post-event media, and user-generated content.
Attending Ability Fest is a personal favourite of mine on the calendar. Seeing people of all abilities dancing together and having the time of their lives is a humbling and inspiring experience. One of my favourite moments was having The Presets perform in our second year, a huge moment, especially given their impact on the fabric of the Australian music industry.
Many come up to teammates and colleagues on the day to express their gratitude, making all the hard work over the years growing Ability Fest with the DAF feel even more worthwhile.
Dylan presents the DAF award each year on stage at the festival to one recipient. A heartwarming example is Cooper Smith, a young man with cerebral palsy. He received funding to pay for his DJ equipment at Ability Fest in 2021 and then went on to be booked to play at the festival in 2023. Through this exposure, he now performs at major events like Beyond The Valley, Finals Fest at the Australian Open as well as Melbourne club Revolver.
When we talk about accessible infrastructure, people often just think about viewing platforms and accessible bathrooms. However, it’s so much more. We’ve ensured there are sensory safe spaces, assistance staff, track matting across the site to create accessible pathways, Auslan [Australian sign-language] interpreters, iMAG screens of a specific size for optimal visibility, suitable site furniture, ticket collection areas, and bar and food offerings at accessible heights, among others. We apply the important attention to detail on frameworks that can often get overlooked, such as using a particular typeface on all event signage across site. This infrastructure and resourcing serve as a blueprint for other Untitled events, in collaboration with our access and
inclusion consultants Get Skilled Access.
When the event was conceptualised, we were in a different economic climate. Fast-forward to 2024, and the cost of producing events has risen significantly. It has become imperative for us to secure government funding and commercial partnerships in order to include all necessary accessible features, whilst also raising significant funds for the foundation.
While we’ve been fortunate to receive funding from Victorian and Queensland governments, it’s clear that the process to secure funding needs to be more attainable for promoters worldwide. People of all abilities deserve the right to enjoy live music. However, in this economic climate and given the state of festivals, the responsibility cannot be solely on promoters to implement the same standard of accessibility measures as Ability Fest.
I want to encourage promoters to pursue government funding to help cover the costs of organising accessible festivals and urge government bodies globally to invest in subsidising the costs associated with accessible infrastructure for public events.
The demand for accessible events is clear, and Ability Fest is a testament to what can be achieved with dedication, the right support, and access to government and partnership funding.
Fil Palermo is a co-founder and managing partner of Untitled Group in Melbourne.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
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