Culture for more people the process of marketing theatre for people with hearing disabilities

Today many people with disabilities are excluded from cultural activities. The reason for this is that activities and the environment are not adapted to people with disabilities. The aim of this study is to describe the process to make cultural activities accessible and to describe the importance of good communication between cultural suppliers and their customers. Other questions raised are accessibility to cultural activities for people with hearing disabilities, the activities in the marketing process, the interaction between theatre companies and its audience and if the interaction has contributed to the theatre's future development. Qualitative interviews with staff responsible for integration at seven theatres have been performed. The aim of the interviews is to find out how they work to make the theatres more accessible to people with hearing disabilities. Two of the theatres have carried out projects to increase accessibility. As a theoretical tool for analysis, the theory of relationship marketing has been used. The conclusion of the study is that theatres differ in accessibility for persons with deafness or impairment of hearing. The study shows that those theatres who have worked together with people with hearing impairment have been satisfied with this corporation and has resulted in further corporation. The following issues has been discussed: Responsibility for accessibility, translation to sign language, aspects of economy, specific cultural activities for disabled people, ticket purchase, validation of services and communication between theatre companies and people with deafness and hearing impairment. The results of the study can also be of use in other cultural areas.Uppsatsnivå: