Arts, Architecture, Activism and Access: Taking Around the Toilet to New Spaces

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Since April 2015, the Around the Toilet project has been exploring what makes a safe and accessible toilet space. Through the project we have shown that while toilets are often thought to be a mundane space, for those for whom a lack of adequate or accessible toilet provision is a crucial practical issue on a daily basis, toilets are 'the big necessity' (George, 2011). Arts, Architecture, Activism and Access: Taking Around the Toilet to New Spaces introduces a new leg of the Around the Toilet project. It is made up of three strands, which are directed at communities invested in the project in different ways.Strand A continues our commitment to working within queer and disability arts, but unlike previous work adds a more explicit international dimension. It begins by collaboratively producing a film which which describes journeys taken or not taken due to in/accessible toilets. The film will be screened at queer and disability arts event in Toronto (Canada), Reykjavik (Iceland), as well as within the UK. We will also submit the film to be screened at 'mainstream' film festivals in order to widen our audience.Strand B continues dissemination activity with architects and design professionals. To do this we will work collaboratively with Sheffield School of Architecture and the 'Live Works' Urban Room, to develop and deliver a 'Studio Pack', Re-Imagining Access, to be used with MA Architecture Students. The Studio Pack will first be used with MA Architecture Students at the University of Sheffield, before being made available to be used at architecture schools across the country. Strand B will also work closely with Gillian Kemp from Public Toilets UK to disseminate and receive feedback on the Toilet Toolkit (www.toilettoolkit.co.uk) which was developed through a previous project, Servicing Utopia.Strand C follows numerous conversations created by the project about the infamous space of the school toilet. Working with Purple Patch Arts and using shadow puppetry, the project team will seek feedback from young people with learning difficulties on the outputs and findings produced through the project so far. This feedback will be curated by an artist to form an exhibition which school professionals will be invited to view and begin a dialogue around what makes a safe, accessible, and indeed pleasant, toilet space in schools.