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Shut Down But Scratching: accessible performances

Audio-described, captioned and BSL-interpreted versions are now available

Following the success of their first online scratch night on Wednesday 15 April, Shoot Festival are now offering access-friendly versions of the performances by local artists that were streamed live on the night.

Those with access requirements can now enjoy the event in audio described or captioned and BSL-interpreted videos, which have been added to Shoot Festival’s YouTube channel, and are available to watch below.

Audio-described version

BSL-interpreted and captioned version

About Shut Down But Scratching

Conceived by Shoot Festival Co-Artistic Directors Jennifer Davis and Paul O’Donnell as a quickfire response to the financial and creative challenges faced by independent artists during the coronavirus lockdown.

In recent weeks, there has been much publicity around the impact of the ongoing pandemic on public venues such as theatres, pubs and restaurants. But what can sometimes be forgotten is the knock-on effect these closures have on independent artists who rely on these venues to share their work and earn a living. With limited support currently available to freelancers, there’s a pressing need for projects that respond to the challenges these artists face.

Presented in partnership with the Belgrade Theatre and Coventry City of Culture Trust, with additional support from Ludic Rooms and Coventry Artspace, the event offered ten micro-commissions of £200 each for early career artists living in Coventry and Warwickshire to develop and showcase new work around the theme “imagine”.

A full list of the artists involved can be found here.

About Shoot Festival

Formerly supported by the Belgrade’s Springboard talent development programmeShoot Festival was founded by Jennifer Davis and Paul O’Donnell to provide a platform for homegrown, early-career artists to share develop and share new work.

Since 2014, they have curated four festivals, supported 63 artists and directly reached over 2,900 audience members across six Coventry City Centre venues. The aim of the company is to:

  • Champion and develop Coventry and Warwickshire based creatives
  • Pioneer original and brilliant ideas
  • Remain open and accessible to artists, audiences and organisations across the city
  • Reflect the city that we live and work in, here and now

For more information, please visit the Shoot Festival website.