ACCESSIBLY CHILLED, ACCESSIBLY PRACTICAL - MARCH 8 - 7.59PM - 2020

Accessibility at Oxford Literary Festival 2020

As promised yesterday, a quick look at the Festival’s accessibility. And in this instance, accessibility has two meanings: one, the physical, for those who are mobility challenged, and two, its openness and sense of engagement. In terms of getting physically around, for those who do have limited mobility (I use a wheelchair), it’s excellent (especially the Sheldonian, the Oxford Martin School - with its gloriously ingenious disappearing steps - the Weston Lecture School, the Divinity School and St Cross College, which I’m told now boasts a brand new accessible entrance). Of course, some of Oxford’s buildings can, occasionally, be a little tricky but there’s never any shortage of help, both in practical terms and general support. As for the festival’s openness and appeal, it’s bang on. Literary festivals can of course have a rather...academic reputation, but in the more than 12 years I’ve been attending, I can vouch for the fact that if you don’t have a doctorate, PhD, Costa Book award, Bachelor’s degree, Advanced A-Level or Suduku puzzle folded oh-so-precisely in your back pocket, you’ll fit in perfectly. And better still, be in included in many of the events interactive approach. So what’s stopping you? It’s a fun, fascinating, colourful and often revelatory safari into the past, the present, the imagined and the future...