Event Information
The Kennedy Center's Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability (LEAD) Conference meets in Philadelphia August 11–14. LEAD is the primary national conference for arts and cultural accessibility professionals, organized by the Kennedy Center's Access/VSA International Network. Attendees include accessibility managers and ADA coordinators from museums, theaters, performing arts centers, parks, zoos, libraries, and other cultural venues, drawing participants from across the United States and internationally.
August 11 is a dedicated day of Capacity Building Workshops before the main conference opens. Sessions August 12–14 cover accessible programming design, assistive listening systems in performance venues, captioning for live events, audio description, digital accessibility, inclusive hiring, and compliance strategy. The conference focuses on practical, immediately applicable guidance. Kennedy Center LEAD Awards recognizing outstanding accessibility leadership in the arts are presented during the conference. Scholarship grants are available through some state arts councils to support attendance.
Learn more here.
