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Art Access director highlights programs that expand accessibility in Utah arts
Summary
Art Access executive director Gabriela Huggins described the nonprofit's 42-year history, its Partners mentorship program for disabled artists, the Breaking Barriers training for cultural organizations, and plans for an adaptive artist expo in 2026.
Gabriela Huggins, executive director of Art Access, told a Utah State Library for the Blind and Disabled podcast that the nonprofit's mission is "increasing access to the arts through opportunities for disabled artists and education for the community and cultural institutions." She said Art Access has operated since 1984 and is now 42 years old.
Huggins described the nonprofit's flagship Partners program, started in 1994, which "pairs an emerging disabled artist with an established artist in the community for 25 hours of co-mentorship," pays both artists for their time, subsidizes materials and culminates in a gallery show. "It's such a beautiful program," she said, adding that several artist pairings have continued beyond the program.
Beyond direct artist support, Huggins outlined Breaking Barriers, a training offered in partnership with the Utah Division of Arts and Museums that helps museums, theaters and other cultural organizations develop accessibility plans and move toward universal design. "We train movie theaters, the Utah Symphony, and small publishing presses in rural Utah," she said, describing the training as focused on practice beyond the ADA and on social accessibility.
Huggins also discussed concrete accessibility services: braille printing, audio descriptions and collaborations with the Utah State Library for the Blind and Disabled and USU's disability institute to provide low-cost device rentals for programming. She said her goal is to make gallery experiences available in multiple formats such as braille, audio, tactile features and adaptive tools.
The organization operates a gallery in the ArtSpace Building on 5th West (between 2nd and 3rd South). Huggins said Art Access is reengaging neighbors and partners to reactivate the space and participate in Friday gallery strolls.
Looking ahead, Huggins previewed a 2026 artist expo demo series that will pair a gallery showing with a morning adaptive artmaking experience to demonstrate tactile and audio approaches and teach attendees how to use adaptive tools.
Huggins acknowledged funding pressures for arts organizations at state and federal levels, saying Art Access has "pared down" programming to match staff capacity while aiming for deeper sustained relationships and impact rather than larger participant numbers. She encouraged audience input: Art Access is soliciting responses through an online community needs assessment and accepts donations.
To learn more or sign up for the newsletter, Huggins listed the nonprofit's website, artaccessutah.org, and Instagram @ArtAccessUtah. The show closed with hosts reiterating that the episode recorded at the Utah State Library for the Blind and Disabled, and pointing listeners to library.utah.gov for library services.
The interview concluded without formal actions or votes; next steps described were outreach, training and programming plans for 2026.
