The Glasshouse

Elle Chante’s Accessible Dreamscapes project is not just about creating music – it’s about creating an experience. Commissioned by Unlimited and The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Accessible Dreamscapes is all about making music accessible to everyone. Here, Elle shares how her dream of putting on a fully accessible performance is becoming a reality. She also tells us about the journey she’s on to pave the way for a more inclusive future in the arts.

How did you get started with Accessible Dreamscapes?

It all started with an application form – a form that I, like many others, have a secret fear of. I had an idea but struggled to put pen to paper. Thankfully, I had my best friend to help me through it. I submitted it at the last minute, and when I got shortlisted, I was thrilled. When I got the commission, that was beyond my wildest dreams. It’s my biggest project yet, and the fact that it’s based around accessibility makes it even more special.

Why focus on accessibility now?

I always said that I didn’t want to put a gig on that I couldn’t attend myself, being disabled. Accessibility shouldn’t be an afterthought – it should be integral to everything we do. With COVID, we saw a surge in accessibility measures, but as things went back to ‘normal’, those accommodations faded away. I wanted to ask, what if accessibility was front and centre? What if it wasn’t just a tick box? Plus, the performance is about my own journey with disability and health struggles. So, it’s all health based using music, visuals and dance.

Working with Attitude is Everything as an ambassador and being part of the Featured Artists Coalition has opened my eyes to the struggles disabled artists face in the music industry. There are so many barriers, from entry for artists to accessibility for audiences. That’s why I’m passionate about making this project as inclusive as possible. Even if we don’t get everything perfect, we’ll learn and grow from the experience.

Can you tell us about Accessible Dreamscapes?

Living with disability has been quite the journey for me. From childhood experiences of abuse leading to complex post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions, to living with physical health issues like joint hypermobility syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and even a recent diagnosis of thyroid cancer – there’s been a lot to navigate. Through it all, music has been my therapy. That’s why this performance is so personal to me.  We’re weaving together my music, my story and access to create an immersive experience.

My music is a blend of genres with an ambient vibe. I started playing guitar, then moved into live looping and drum pads. Dance has always been part of my creative process, although I took a break, out of concern for my health. But now with this project, I’m bringing everything together in a way that’s accessible to everyone. It’ll be a very multi-media, mixed arts performance, with accessibility at its heart.

How are you making sure the performance is accessible?

We started by gathering insights from focus groups with people who have lived experience with disability. We asked them about their preferences, what they find helpful in performances, and what they’d like to see more of. We also worked with an access consultant. These insights guided us towards making the performance as accessible and engaging as possible for everyone – like figuring out seating arrangements, ensuring wheelchair access, and designing a floor plan that’s both creative and comfortable. It’s a bit of a jigsaw puzzle. We looked at all the different pieces we needed to consider and fitted them together. These details can make the difference in whether someone can fully enjoy the performance or not.

How important is it to have space and time to work on a project like this?

It’s massive. Being able to have a week-long residency at The Glasshouse to prepare for this project has been huge, especially for someone like me with complex health. It means I can take breaks when I need to, because that time is already factored into the schedule. Without this dedicated time and space, I know I would struggle to complete a project like this.

What do you hope people take away from your performance?

When you’re going through difficult experiences, whether that’s complex physical health, mental health struggles, or even everyday struggles, it can feel quite lonely. I want people to watch this and think, ‘I see myself in that.’ Or maybe, ‘I never realised it could feel that way.’ It’s about sparking those conversations so that we can connect and feel a little less alone in our hardships.

What’s next after the performance?

We’re really excited about the possibility of taking the performance to more places.

Throughout this project, and life in general, there have been challenges every step of the way. But taking the time to pause and reflect on whether it’s worth it has been crucial. It’s okay to struggle and feel overwhelmed by things, especially for my neuro-divergent friends – it’s all part of the journey.

The budget has been the biggest surprise for us. It’s been a real eye-opener and highlights even more of the barriers that exist. It’s not just about the performance itself, it’s about the lessons we’ve learned along the way. From the focus group feedback to the costs involved, it’s shown us how much more we need to do to truly make things accessible for everyone.

Bringing about change won’t be easy, especially considering the multitude of challenges in todays society, but I’m determined to take what we’ve learned and work towards a future where accessibility isn’t just an afterthought. The arts have the power to shape culture, and this project is incredibly important both artistically and culturally.

You can see Elle Chante’s Accessible Dreamscapes project at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music on Thursday 6 June. Find out more and book your tickets here.