South Shore Conservatory Selected by Massachusetts Cultural Council as UP Designated Arts Organization

South Shore Conservatory (SSC) has been selected by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) as the first UP designated arts organization on the South Shore. UP is new initiative to encourage cultural organizations to develop best practices and grow their core mission to embrace and incorporate inclusive Universal Design, grow their audiences, and enhance cultural experiences for all.

The UP initiative is a key strategy in MCC’s goal to make Massachusetts the most arts accessible state in the nation. UP is an acronym signifying many important elements; the “U” stands for Universal Design and universal access, a broad-spectrum concept originated to augment buildings, products and environments to be inherently accessible to people of all ages and abilities, while the “P” stands for pledging to make progress in programming, place-making, personnel, publications, and partnerships. SSC is the only South Shore organization selected to participate, along with nine other prestigious Massachusetts cultural organizations from across the state, including high profile institutions such as The Museum of Fine Arts, The Museum of Science and The Barrington Stage Company.

Part of SSC’s involvement in the UP Program included a site visit from Universal Design professionals and experts who live with physical, sensory and/or cognitive limitations to assess SSC’s accessibility and inclusion. Their feedback highlighted practical changes such as improving signage, designating quiet break areas, and changing seating to assist those with mobility limitations. SSC has already implemented these first steps toward becoming a truly Universal Design facility. Additional efforts involve making printed and digital information more accessible to the visually impaired, education of staff and faculty, and planning for SSC’s future as a model organization for inclusion and access.

SSC initiated their commitment by forming an UP initiative team, including Eve Montague, Director of Creative Arts Therapies, Anne Smith, Director of Community Partnerships, and Nancy Oddleifson, SSC Board of Trustees member. The team will work together through training, providing updates to SSC and MCC staff while the plan is in progress, and share educational opportunities to staff and faculty. Montague is thrilled to help SSC embark on this catalyst for change, stating, “I know how committed SSC is to the belief that the arts should be available to every person, regardless of their ability or age. We’re looking forward to completing MCC training to ensure we are truly a Universal Design facility.”

Through their Innovation and Learning Network (ILN), MCC works with UP designated organizations to help them achieve compliance. ILN assists UP designees in embracing the challenges of improving accessibility and implementing Universal Design as a core part of their mission. SSC will engage in ILN’s model of community practice, sharing interests and similar challenges with peer organizations to learn from each other over the course of a year. The program helps SSC develop their initiative, track progress and define success towards full implementation in all of their programs at campuses in Hingham, Duxbury and their community partnership programs in neighboring communities. “We’re preparing to be a premier accessible site for all our offerings,” share Montague, “From physical buildings to printed materials, online information, and classes and performances.”

On June 4, SSC will formally present their initiative plans and an education program on creative innovative, integrated and inclusive programs for all, with all participating UP organizations. “It’s about inclusivity,” says Montague, “We’re committed to actively work to make every aspect of what we do accessible for all.”
For more information on Massachusetts Cultural Council and the UP program, visit www.massculturalcouncil.org. For more information about all of South Shore Conservatory’s programs, performances and events, please visit www.sscmusic.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About South Shore Conservatory
South Shore Conservatory, recently recognized as a national model for arts education by the National Guild for Community Arts Education, is celebrating nearly 45 years of enriching the lives of South Shore residents through music and the arts. SSC was founded as a not-for-profit community music school in 1970 and now has two beautiful campuses in Hingham and Duxbury. Currently serving over 3500 students of all ages and abilities, SSC is the largest community school for the arts in Massachusetts. Students participate in more than 50 diverse programs in music, dance and drama. Through innovative partnerships with social service agencies, SSC’s Creative Arts Therapies department supports the mental, emotional, and physical health of some of our community’s more fragile members. SSC’s Hingham campus is located at One Conservatory Drive, Hingham, 781-749-7565. SSC’s Duxbury campus is located at the Ellison Center for the Arts, 64 St. George Street, Duxbury, 781-934-2731. South Shore Conservatory is a member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education. SSC programs are supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information call us, follow us on Facebook or visit www.sscmusic.org.

In keeping with SSC’s inclusive mission to provide access to quality education in the arts for all, the Conservatory offers programs for all segments of the population to enjoy, regardless of age, ability, geography, and financial means. Furthermore, South Shore Conservatory admits students and families of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.