At WelcoMe, we believe true inclusion goes beyond physical compliance. It is built on confidence, dignity, and personal agency.
One of the very first venues to offer WelcoMe back in 2018 was Edinburgh Printmakers — but their journey of inclusion started a long, long time before then.
Since its foundation in 1967, Edinburgh Printmakers has been a pioneer in widening access to the visual arts. Operating out of the beautifully restored Castle Mills heritage site, the organisation is much more than a traditional gallery: it is a vibrant, multi-use hub comprising galleries, artist residency spaces, printmaking studios, and community learning environments.
Our founder, Gavin Neate, sat down with Roseanne at Edinburgh Printmakers to discuss why emotional welcomes matter, how pre-arrival communication reduces threshold anxiety, and how proactive disability awareness is setting a new benchmark for Scotland's cultural sector — and beyond.
Q: Edinburgh Printmakers' mission has always centred on widening access to the arts. Why is it so important for a contemporary arts organisation to move beyond physical ramps and focus on the emotional 'welcome' for disabled visitors and artists?
Roseanne: Edinburgh Printmakers' (EP's) mission is to advance artistic excellence in printmaking and the visual arts and sustain diverse communities of artists to contribute to the cultural life of the nation. Since we were established in 1967, the core of our work has been centred on providing facilities to access the visual arts for those who did not have the means to do so.
Contemporary arts organisations need to recognise and actively support the principle of equality of opportunity in all aspects of their operations, public programming, and support for artists. Having a strong emotional welcome for disabled visitors and artists contributes to the development of good community relationships. By welcoming more artists and visitors with more diverse backgrounds and experiences to engage with our organisation, we become more resilient, welcoming new ideas and perspectives on how we can present our work to minimise perceived barriers to participation.
Q: You don't just welcome visitors; you welcome makers, residents, and studio users who spend significant time in the building. How does having WelcoMe's 'Invisible Infrastructure' in place help your front-of-house and studio teams feel confident and prepared?
Roseanne: WelcoMe is a wonderful tool for our team. In knowing someone's access needs ahead of their visit, we can appropriately prepare and feel confident in our ability to meet their specific needs. As we have lots of different facilities and points of engagement at EP, from our galleries to our studio space, WelcoMe has been invaluable in allowing our team to adapt for a wide range of scenarios.
EP's ethos is rooted in inclusion and accessibility. WelcoMe allows us to be true to our values and implement them on a daily basis. It allows us to actively create a space where users can feel comfortable and supported in ways that they define themselves. It is only through being supported that visitors, studio members, and residents can truly enjoy our space, learn about printmaking, and feel inspired!
Q: For many people, stepping into a creative or contemporary art space can feel intimidating. How do you feel the ability for a visitor to share their 'Key' before arrival changes that dynamic?
Roseanne: Sharing a 'Key' before arrival eases our visitor's experience of a new creative space — that may at times feel intimidating — as they already have a point of contact with EP and know that their access requirements will be met. The platform allows visitors to engage with the space in a way that is comfortable for them, giving more agency to the visitor.
In turn, this should help the visitor drop their defences, knowing that someone has prepared appropriately for their visit, and allow them to interact with our community and artistic space in a relaxed and enjoyable way. WelcoMe allows the visitor to lead their experience in a new space without being confined to set rules or expectations.
Q: As a leading light in the Scottish arts scene, how do you feel this proactive model of disability awareness and preparation could change the wider cultural landscape across the UK if adopted as a sector standard?
Roseanne: WelcoMe is incomparable for opportunities for staff training. Not only are staff able to quickly work through training modules in advance of a specific visit, but notifications can be set up for weekly or daily reminders, or worked through as part of a wider training plan. For cultural organisations with limited resources, having one place for well-structured and researched training is vital to be able to prepare proactively for visits.
The more cultural organisations that adopt approaches like WelcoMe, the better the industry will be placed to recognise, adapt, and programme with disabled artists and visitors in mind. By using WelcoMe, not only can cultural organisations commit to a policy that encourages the widest participation in all its activities from all sections of the community, but they can better understand their audiences, their needs, their wants, and ensure that a truly prepared and welcoming experience is possible for all.
"WelcoMe allows the visitor to lead their experience in a new space without being confined to set rules or expectations."
— Roseanne, Edinburgh Printmakers
Thank you Roseanne and team. We look forward to supporting your aspirations to bring this amazing building — and the amazing artists within it — to as many people as possible.
Plan Your Visit to Edinburgh Printmakers
Heading to Castle Mills? Share your WelcoMe Key before you arrive and the team will be ready to welcome you.
Share your Key with Edinburgh Printmakers at wel-co.me