Creative Access Press Release

May 15, 2002 - For immediate release
Contact: Carol Finkle - 215.569.8311 TTY/Voice
Photos provided upon request

First-Annual
"ACCESSIBILITY BEYOND THE RAMP" AWARDS
Seven Philadelphia arts institutions to receive
First-Time Award at 10th Gala Celebration
Honorable Edward G. Rendell and Sharon Pinkenson Honorary Co-Chairpersons
Philadelphia, PA.

The region's first award category honoring area arts institutions that have demonstrated their commitment to accessibility and inclusion respectively, and whose artistic managements have walked-the-walk of 'accessibility beyond the ramp' - in relation to audiences and artists who are Deaf and hard of hearing - will be honored during Creative Access,'s 10th Gala Benefit Celebration on June 1, 2002, 5:30 to 10pm, at Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine Street in Old City, Philadelphia. Creative Access is the small non profit celebrating ten years using the world of the arts for social change by bringing the Deaf and hearing cultures together through the realm of the arts.

"These awards are a testament to the commitment to inclusion of all people in the diverse arts life of our City by the awcwn arts organizations on whom we are bestowing this award", states Carol Finkle, Founder and Executive Director of Creative Access, the region’s only advocacy, arts service and presenting organization dedicated to insuring visibility, accessibility, opportunity and inclusion of Deaf and hearing individuals of all ages in the arts and cultural life of the Philadelphia region.

“This was not an easy step”, continued Finkle. “At first we’d considered pushing for this type of award to be included in some other, more high-profile awards ceremony in the City, but then the epiphany came! Why don’t we [Creative Access] ourselves establish and give these awards? After all, who is more conscious of how much arts accessibility means to vast numbers of people who have historically lived in a cultural/artistic waste land? And who is more clear about which arts institutions have earned an award such as this?

And so it will come to pass. On June 1, 2002, on the stage of the first mainstream presenting organization ever to show case Deaf artists - actors, dancers, poets - presenting in the beauty of American Sign Language as an art form in Philadelphia [Painted Bride Art Center], that the following awardees will receive applause and kudos they deserve from the very people whose quality of life has sky rocketed due to their willingness to respond to Creative Access’s advocacy by opening their hearts and their doors to new audiences and new artists. They are: Arden Theatre Company, Forrest Theatre, Freedom Theatre, Mum Puppettheatre, Painted Bride Art Center, Pennsylvania Ballet and Mid-Atlantic Playbill Publishers.

When informed of the awards, Terrance Nolan, Producing Artistic Director of Arden called to say he was ‘thrilled and honored’. Mr. Nolan’s comments reflect the responses of all seven awardees who will be presented with special plaques at the Gala, further underscoring Creative Access’s impact on the world of the arts in Philadelphia. The more we break down those invisible barriers”, gleams Ms. Finkle, “the more we are, all of us, the richer for it. After all, “wheelchair access and accommodations certainly are necessary, but they are not sufficient”. Our partners and ‘Awardees’ understand this.

Attending the event and welcoming guests will be the Honorary Co-Chairpersons for the Gala are The Hon. Edward G. Rendell, and Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director of Greater Philadelphia Film Office and Film at the Prince, both long time advocates of accessibility and inclusion in the arts…for all.
Entertainment for the Gala will be performed by Pulitzer Prize Winner for Poetry 2000, CK Williams, accompanied by creative American Sign Language interpreters, and by The Wild Zappers, seven Black, Deaf, talented Hip-Hop/Funk dancers, poets, actors.

Communication accessibility will be provided to Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing attendees alike: Interpreting in American Sign Language for Deaf audience, Voice interpreting for hearing audience, and CART (Real Time Captioning) for people with hearing loss who do not communicate in sign.

Tickets are $60 before May 15, 2002, and $75 after May 15. Discounted ticket information is available by contacting Creative Access, 100 So. Broad Street, Suite 1515, Phila., PA 19110
Phone: 215.569.8311 TTY/Voice.
Fax: 215.569.8104 Email: craccess@aol.com: Web: www.creativeaccess.org
for complete information about all Creative Access programs and services.