WORCESTER—A nonprofit tied to Worcester is making a national splash in the arts world with a groundbreaking new digital platform.
Open Door Arts, the Boston-based affiliate of the Worcester-headquartered Seven Hills Foundation, launched the Arts & Culture Accessibility Hub, a first-of-its-kind, free national toolkit designed to guide arts and cultural organizations across the U.S. in designing more inclusive practices and representing people with disabilities.
The platform consolidates accessibility FAQs, planning guides, legal advice, self-assessment tools, expert directories and training—all in one spot—alongside art by more than 40 artists with disabilities. According to the announcement, the Hub aims to transform good intentions into action.
“In creating The Hub, we responded to a need in the cultural sector and a calling from the disability community,” said Nicole Agois, managing director of Open Door Arts, in an announcement. “Organizations want to be more accessible, but the path forward can feel overwhelming.”
As an affiliate of Seven Hills Foundation—an agency based at 81 Hope Ave in Worcester and serving 60,000 clients across hundreds of locations—Open Door Arts has long supported inclusive programming. Its programs include artist training, school initiatives, and gallery exhibitions—including Worcester’s ODG@WAM space at the Worcester Art Museum—aimed at increasing representation and participation for artists with disabilities.
Once dubbed “VSA Massachusetts,” Open Door Arts continues working with teaching artists, educators, cultural leaders and students to challenge status quo thinking and amplify inclusive practices.
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