ADUK I value the arts

Marketing for Audio Described/Subtitled Cinema

It is estimated up to 5 million people in the UK have some form of serious visual or hearing disability. In Wales, there are over 480,000 individuals with hearing loss or hearing related difficulties and 100,000 with serious sight loss. (Source: RNID Cymru and RNIB Cymru).

Until recently, deaf and visually impaired people have found the cinema totally inaccessible, being unable to fully enjoy a cinema experience, and the opportunity to share that experience with friends and family.

Almost every popular cinema release in now available with subtitles for hearing impaired people and audio description for visually impaired people. As a result of an initiative by, and funding from the ACW Capital Lottery Unit, Creative Mwldan Creadigidol (supported by some staff members of Theatre Mwldan) were appointed to lead a project to introduce ’accessible’ screenings at 10 arts centre venues throughout Wales.

It is a requirement of the Arts Council Lottery Funding for the project, that a common standard of best practice is established, agreed upon and implemented by participating venues. This document has been researched by Siobhan McGovern (Theatr Mwldan’s Marketing Manager) in conjunction with RNID Cymru, www.yourlocalcinema.com, Disability Arts Cymru, RNIB Cymru, Dolby, DTS, Sound Associates, Warner Brothers, Buena Vista International, Pictures and Paramount (ex UIP).

The ‘Programming and Marketing Audio Described and Subtitled Cinema: A Best Practice Guide’ can be downloaded below.

Downloads Type Size  
Best Practice Guide PDF (Adobe Portable Document Format) File pdf 3182.71KB Download - Best Practice Guide
Canllaw Ymarfer Da PDF (Adobe Portable Document Format) File pdf 3474.61KB Download - Canllaw Ymarfer Da

Return to top

What´s New

Audiences Wales 2012-13 - An overview

Audiences Wales continues to support the arts and cultural sectors in Wales with a range of services and support. Audiences Wales is the audience development agency for Wales and aims to enable arts organisations to understand their audiences, increase their impact, and reach new visitors.


Youth Arts Network

An opportunity to explore the potential for a Youth Arts Network that connects youth arts providers and practitioners across Wales.

TMA Residential Courses

The Theatrical Management Association’s highly regarded Essentials of Marketing ‘Druidstone’ and Effective Management courses will take place this October and applications are now open with a 10% saving on 2012 prices offered on all applications submitted by 26 July.

Visual Arts Audience Benchmarking

Audiences Wales has published a Wales-wide Benchmark Report of visitors to galleries in Wales during 2012.

The Knowledge Guide

The Knowledge is Audiences Wales’ Box Office analysis programme for theatres, arts centres and touring companies. With 38 theatres currently subscribing to the programme, The Knowledge is the most significant analysis of actual theatre attendance in Wales.

Marketing Welsh Language Events

We’ve compiled a useful factsheet on marketing Welsh language events with the assistance of attendees from our Welsh Language Marketing Forums.

Identifying the Potential published

Identifying the Potential is a major research project into drama audiences in Wales.

Website Update - New Learning Resources and Links

We’ve made some changes to our website – www.audienceswales.co.uk – to provide even greater support for our users.

Children and The Arts

DCMS have released a report outlining how children engage with cultural sectors.

Marketing for Audio Described/Subtitled Cinema

In Wales, there are over 480,000 individuals with hearing loss or hearing related difficulties and 100,000 with serious sight loss. (Source: RNID Cymru and RNIB Cymru).

Audiences Wales - part of the bigger picture

Audiences Wales is proud to be a member of Network.