Arnolfini Access Statement Image 1: Arnolfini from the water About Arnolfini In a fantastic waterside location at the heart of Bristol s harbourside, Arnolfini is one of Europe s leading centres for the contemporary arts, presenting innovative, experimental work in the visual arts, performance, dance, film, music and events, accompanied by a programme of learning and participation activities. Five exhibition spaces, a theatre/cinema auditorium, Reading Room and Light/Dark Studios are housed in the Grade II listed, fully accessible building. The converted warehouse also contains one of the country s best arts bookshops as well as a Café Bar serving the best in local and seasonal produce. Arnolfini is a registered charity, core funded by Arts Council England and in receipt of regular funding from Bristol City Council. We look forward to welcoming you to Arnolfini, if you have any queries or require assistance please contact our Visitor Experience Team on 0117 917 2300 or info@arnolfini.org.uk. 1
Overview Arnolfini is located on Bristol s harbourside in the city centre and has a flat gradient. Our building is completely accessible for wheelchair users. We have disabled toilets on all levels. We have 2 wheelchairs on site if required. Portable seating can be provided on request. Please ask at the Welcome Desk or speak to one of our Visitor Experience Volunteers in the galleries. All levels can be accessed using a central lift which has a doorway measuring 90cm. There is a hearing loop in our Café Bar and at the Welcome Desk. Our main auditorium also has a hearing loop. Please inform our Visitor Experience Team at the time of booking if you require access so that seats can be reserved in the correct location. For ticketed events a free carer ticket can be provided. Please inform our Visitor Experience Team at the time of booking. Discounted tickets are available for some events for people who are in receipt of disability benefits. Proof does need to be shown in the form of a letter or statement from DWP. We welcome assistance dogs. Image 2: Wheelchairs are available Image 3: Outside the lift 2
Image 4: Inside of the lift - railing and mirrored back Image 5: Portable seating Getting Here By Rail: The nearest railway station is Bristol Temple Meads, approximately 1 mile away. There is a taxi rank outside the station with accessible taxis available. There are many buses that leave from outside the railway station to the city centre. Buses 70 and 71 leave from directly outside the station and drop passengers at Baldwin Street which is 0.4 miles away. Buses X39, 379, 349 and 38 also drop passengers at Baldwin Street, however the bus stop nearest the railway station is 0.2 miles away on Temple Gate. Buses 50 and 51 also depart from Temple Gate and drop passengers at The Centre which is 0.2 miles away from Arnolfini. The route to the gallery from all the bus stops includes uneven and cobbled pavements. More information regarding travelling to Bristol Temple Meads and the station facilities can be found at: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/bri.aspx 3
By Bus: The main bus station is located approximately 1 mile from Arnolfini on Marlborough Street. Buses X1, X2, X3, X8 and X9 depart every five minutes from the bus station to Anchor Road, 0.3 miles away. There is a taxi rank outside the bus station. The route to the gallery from all bus stops includes uneven and cobbled pavements. Further information on local public transport can be found at: First Bus http://www.firstgroup.com/bristol-bath-and-west, travel line: 0871 200 2233, customer services: 0117 244 4040. Wessex Bus http://www.wessexbus.com/, telephone: 0117 231 3190. Car Parking: There are three disabled parking spaces available directly outside Arnolfini s main entrance (accessed via Farr s Lane). If you are travelling alone please phone ahead (0117 917 2300) for assistance accessing these spaces. Spaces are free of charge however you will require a parking permit which can be collected from the Welcome Desk on arrival. Spaces are allocated on a first come first served basis. The distance from these spaces to our main entrance is approximately 5 meters along a cobbled street. Image 6: One of our disabled parking spaces outside the main entrance 4
Image 7: From the parking bays to the main entrance The nearest public car park is The Grove, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 4RB which is 0.2 miles away. It has 113 spaces including blue badge spaces, which are free of charge. Other users need to pay for a ticket. It is long stay. The route from the car park to Arnolfini is almost entirely cobbled and is well lit after dark with street lighting. Image 8: Arnolfini from The Grove car park 5
Image 9: Disabled bay in The Grove car park Image 10: Route from The Grove car park to our main entrance 6
Arrival There is a dropped curb outside the main entrance for drop off. Arnolfini has automatic doors which will slide open when approached. The main entrance is level with no steps or gradients. The opening width of the doors is approximately 2 meters. This area is well lit with street lights after dark. Image 11: Our main entrance close up The building can also be accessed via our Café Bar which is on the right hand side of the main entrance. The Café Bar entrance is 1.2m wide. The approach to the entrance is cobbled and an uneven pavement. There is no dropped curb. 7
Image 12: Café Bar entrance Welcome Desk The Welcome Desk is located directly to the left of the main entrance on the ground level which has no gradients or steps. There is a lowered section which is suitable for wheelchair users and there is no glass separating visitors and staff. From the Welcome Desk visitors can obtain information about our exhibitions and programme and purchase tickets. If you require any help with access please speak to one of our Visitor Experience Assistants based at the Welcome Desk. There is a hearing loop and a sign to advise visitors of such on the Welcome Desk. 8
Image 13: Welcome Desk Our Spaces Foyer In the foyer there is text on the walls of varying size, in either white text on dark grey or dark blue text on light grey. The font is clear. The main foyer is well lit with downward spot lighting. The glass entrance doors allow for daylight. There is a wheelchair which is available to borrow, please ask at the Welcome Desk. Visitors can be assisted by Visitor Experience Assistants if they need to use a pen and pad for communication purposes. There are disabled toilets on the ground level between the foyer and the Café Bar. There is a lift which takes visitors to all other levels of the building. Further into the space the lighting is of a soft level using a combination of downward spots and concealed fluorescent tubes. There is bench seating in the foyer. 9
Image 14: The foyer Image 15: Further into the foyer showing text on the walls 10
Image 16: Bench seating in the foyer The Reading Room The Reading Room is located on level 2, accessible via the lift. The entrance is 170m wide. The flooring of the room is short pile, dark grey carpet. The walls are white. The room contains a sofa, chairs and a table and many books on varying levels contained in book shelves. There is space to manoeuvre a wheelchair or pushchair between the shelves and furniture. The room is well lit with natural light and combination of downward spots and fluorescent tube ring lights. There is a Visitor Experience Volunteer available to assist visitors if required. 11
Image 17: Inside the Reading Room Auditorium Our auditorium is located on the ground level. The entrance is 92cm wide with a short pile dark grey carpet. The entrance has a smooth approach. There is a second doorway which is 98cm wide. Both doorways have heavy soundproofed doors, however these will be open to allow visitors through at the beginning and end of events. A steward is available to assist if required. There are spaces for wheelchairs at the front of the seating. The auditorium itself is a large black box space. The exit signs are illuminated. Stewards are available with torches to assist. There are many different lights and the level of light will depend on the event. The Visitor Experience Team can provide further information on specific events, 0117 917 2300, info@arnolfini.org.uk. 12
Image 18: Auditorium entrance Image 19: Inside the auditorium 13
Image 20: Auditorium seating The Meeting Room The Meeting Room is located on level 1, accessible via the lift. It has two doorways. The first measures 94cm wide. The door is of a medium weight. The floor between the doors is level and smooth. The second doorway measures 98cm wide and the door is a medium weight. There is plenty of natural light coming from three large windows. The room is evenly lit throughout with circular, tube florescent lights. The level of light would be event dependant. The Visitor Experience Team can provide further information on specific event, 0117 917 2300, info@arnolfini.org.uk. 14
Image 21: Meeting Room entrance Image 22: Inside the Meeting Room 15
The Light Studio The Light Studio is on level 2, accessible via the lift. The doorway is 90cm wide. The door is of a medium weight. The floor is smooth and level. The room is very well lit with natural light from several windows as well as circular, tube florescent lights. The level of light would be event dependant. The Visitor Experience Team can provide further information on specific event, 0117 917 2300, info@arnolfini.org.uk. Image 23: Light Studio entrance 16
Image 24: Inside the Light Studio The Dark Studio The Dark Studio is located on level 2, accessible via the lift. It is a sound proofed room and therefore has two doorways. The first is 92cm wide and has a heavy door which opens outwards. There is a short ramp on a gradient which is carpeted in dark grey, short pile carpet. The next doorway is 133cm wide. The door is heavy and opens outwards. The door can be secured open with a switch. The room is a black box studio space with no windows. There are varying types of lights, such as concealed fluorescent tubes and downward facing spot lights. The level of light would be event dependant. The Visitor Experience Team can provide further information on specific events, 0117 917 2300, info@arnolfini.org.uk. The floor of the studio is smooth and level. 17
Image 25: Dark Studio entrance Image 26: Inside the Dark Studio 18
Public Toilets There are public toilets, including accessible toilets located on every level of the building. There are unisex accessible toilets located on the ground floor and levels 1 and 2 with an accessible toilet located in both the ladies and the mens toilets in the basement. Our accessible toilets all have a level entrance with smooth concreate floor. The width of the entrances is approximately 95cm and the doors are of a medium weight. There is a clear space for wheelchairs on by the side of the toilet which measures approximately 86cm. The height of the toilets from floor to seat is approximately 46cm. There are horizontal and vertical grab rails on both the right and left of the toilets. There is a red alarm cord in every accessible toilet to alert members of staff to emergencies. The toilets are well lit with downward spots. The floor surface is non slip. The taps are lever. Image 27: Accessible toilet on ground level 19
Catering The Café Bar is located on the ground level with level access. There is a short ramp at the bar. There is a step, however the same part of the Café Bar is also accessible via a short ramp which is smooth concreate. The entrance from the foyer is 216cm wide with no door. The chairs are made of metal and are 47cm high. The tables have wooden tops and metal legs and measure 75cm high, with a height underneath of 63cm. There are no table cloths. There is space to manoeuvre a wheelchair or pushchair in some parts of the café bar. The Café Bar is well lit with a combination of down light and natural light. The menu is written on white paper in a black, clear font. It is available in large print. There is vegetarian, vegan and gluten free food available, which is marked on the menu. Food is ordered at the bar and a member of staff brings it to your table. If visitors require further assistance in ordering food, table service is available if requested. The nearest accessible toilets are located in the Café Bar with level access. Background music is played at times at a low level. Image 28: Entrance to the café bar from foyer 20
Image 29: Café Bar with slight ramp Image 30: Café Bar table layout 21
The Bookshop The Bookshop is located on the ground level. There is level access with no ramps or steps and the floor is smooth concreate which is level throughout. The entrance is 139cm wide with no door. There are large spaces between display tables to manoeuvre a wheelchair or pushchair. There is a low counter area. The display racks are a combination of bookshelves display tables and plastic racks for cards. Background music is played at times at a low level. There is not a hearing loop, however there are members of staff available to give assistance. Image 31: View of foyer in to the Bookshop 22
Image 32: View of Bookshop counter Image 33: The Bookshop 23
Other Information Signage throughout Arnolfini is mostly dark blue on grey walls. The font is clear and of varying size. The levels are marked using a large letter or number on the side of the wall of that level. The toilets are marked by pictograms, including the accessible toilets. There are a total of 42 stairs going from the ground level to level 2. There is a hand rail on the staircase and landings in the stairs. There are visible exit signs throughout the building with volunteers and staff members available to assist if required. There are disabled refuge spaces on the first and second level and in the basement in the event of a fire evacuation. We welcome assistance dogs and can offer a water bowl if needed. Image 34 and 35: Examples of signage Image 36: Ground to level 1 stairs 24
Galleries and Bookshop Opening Hours Monday: Closed (Open Bank Holiday Mondays 11am-6pm) Tuesday Sunday: 11am 6pm (please also check our current exhibition page) Cafe Bar Opening Hours Monday and Tuesday: 10am 6pm Wednesday: 10am 10pm Thursday and Friday: 10am 8pm Saturday: 10am 10pm Sunday: 10am 6pm Kitchen open 10am 5pm daily Useful Contacts Mobility equipment hire: Mobility equipment can be hired from Bristol Mobility 0117 955 9083 http://www.bristolshopmobility.co.uk/ Local Accessible Taxi: 0117 925 2626 Arnolfini, 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol, BS1 4QA www.arnolfoni.org.uk 25