What happens when an organization commits to accessibility as part of its artistic vision? Gallery Players of Niagara is showing what’s possible.
When Gallery Players of Niagara partnered with Xenia Concerts, they set out to make live music more accessible through their Open Doors initiative. After Gallery Players staff completed Xenia’s Accessibility Training Programming, we collaborated with them to provide training to their artists and supported them in building an Adaptive Concert series. In just two years, Gallery Players has built its own successful Adaptive Concert series.
Today, they’ve secured ongoing funding to present Adaptive Concerts as part of their regular season – a testament to the impact of this work and the community.
Here’s what they shared with us:
“Our partnership with Xenia Concerts has been truly transformative. The training, resources, and programming align perfectly with our Open Doors initiative, helping us break down barriers to inclusion and create meaningful musical experiences for everyone in our community.”
–Margaret Gay, GPN Artistic and Administrative Director
What has inspired us most is hearing about the ripple effects. Their musicians say these are the performances they treasure most. Parents and caregivers regularly share that these are the first concerts where their children feel genuinely welcomed and accommodated. Funders have enthusiastically supported the work and audiences who first discovered Gallery Players through Adaptive Concerts are now returning for main-stage performances. Fuelled by this growing interest, they are doubling the number of Adaptive Concerts in the 2026-2027 season from three to six!
This is what lasting change looks like: accessibility becoming embedded in an organization’s identity, strengthening community impact and artistic sustainability.
Congratulations to the incredible team at Gallery Players of Niagara – we can’t wait to see your Adaptive Performance Series continue to grow.
If you’re in the Niagara region, don’t miss the opportunity to experience one of Gallery Players’ free Adaptive Performances.