PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3rd June 2015

Sing it, Move it, Sign it! Its all in the mix
York-based inclusive arts charity Accessible Arts & Media champions and celebrates the talents
of adults with learning difficulties and disabilities. What better way to celebrate their 33rd
birthday, than with a gig in York on Friday 26th June featuring three incredible performance
groups: MiXiT, Hands & Voices and Chilli BON BON!
MiXiT, the ground-breaking inclusive pop group from County Durham, blew everyone away
when they performed in York for the first time last year. Made up of both disabled and nondisabled singers this hugely talented group have performed all over the UK to massive
audiences and they cant wait to bring their joyful celebration of all things pop to everyone
here in York.
Yorks first singing and signing choir, Hands & Voices pioneered their form of inclusive music
making over 15 years ago. The choir exists to enable people with learning and communication
difficulties to express themselves through creativity and performance with many never have
been given this opportunity before. With sheer joy and exuberance they bring their own
mischievous style to the mix and theyre always a thrill to watch.
Chilli BON BON are an inclusive contemporary dance and drama project set up by the
Brunswick Social Club for both disabled and non-disabled performers. Theyll be easing
everyone into trying out their dance moves in time for the DJ to take to the decks as
Accessible Arts & Media wrap up the night with a birthday disco.

Charity Reg No: 1072902 Reg. in England: 03500128

Tel: 01904 626965

E Mail: info@aamedia.org.uk W: www.aamedia.org.uk

Accessible Arts and Media Managing Director, Rose Kent, says: For us at Accessible Arts &

Media, inclusion is all about changing the way we think about each other, bringing out the
best in people and showing how much fun we have together. Theres no better way of sharing
this than with a gig featuring some of the areas most talented performers. I challenge anyone
to come to this gig and not leave with a huge smile on his or her face!
All funds raised on the day will go towards supporting the work of Accessible Arts & Media.
The concert will take place from 7pm onwards on Friday 26th June at New Earswick Bowls
Club, York. Tickets, priced at 7 (4 concessions) For more ticket information please contact
us on 01904 626965 or email info@aamedia.org.uk

- ENDS Media Contact

Kirsty Halliday
kirsty.halliday@aamedia.org.uk
Tel: 07736 646920
@Aamedia_org_uk
www.aamedia.org.uk
Notes to Editors
1.

Accessible Arts & Media

Accessible Arts & Media is an award-winning charity connecting communities, people with disabilities and young
people across York and North Yorkshire. The charity runs a diverse range of creative music and arts projects
where everyones achievements and aspirations are celebrated regardless of their circumstances.
The organisation is socially inclusive and run in a user-focused way. We employ a range of communication and
learning methods, resources and technologies that allow participants to be consulted and to access activities in a
way that suits their particular needs.
As an award winning charity with a 30-year legacy of celebrating inclusive arts, we inspire thousands of disabled
people and young people to communicate through creativity, to have their voices heard and make a real
difference in their local community.
More information from http://www.aamedia.org.uk

Charity Reg No: 1072902 Reg. in England: 03500128

Tel: 01904 626965

E Mail: info@aamedia.org.uk W: www.aamedia.org.uk

MiXit

MiXiT break new ground with their lively appeal as the world's first inclusive pop group. Performing classic pop
songs and new and original material. MiXiT have begun to attract audiences from not only the UK but from all
over the world. With the beginnings of a global fan following MiXiT are iconic to both people with and without
disabilities.
Consisting of ten singers, this talented group have performed all over the UK to massive audiences such as the
main act at the Labour Party Conference before Tony Blair's speech in 2005. MiXit have a dream to show that
people with and without disabilities can live in harmony and to inspire people with disabilities to achieve and give
hope to families that achieving is possible.
More information from http://www.mixitmusic.co.uk

Hands & Voices

Hands and Voices is a 50 strong singing and signing community choir with community spirit at its heart that
inspires disabled people to communicate through creativity.
It is one of the first singing and signing choirs in the UK, set up almost 20 years ago by York based charity,
Accessible Arts & Media, as a means of enabling people with learning and communication difficulties to take part
in music and express themselves creatively and who have won national and international acclaim for creating an
innovative approach to making music more accessible.
As an inclusive community choir, Hands & Voices welcomes all members of the community whether they have a
disability or not, led by a vision where everyone is equally valued, celebrated, challenged and where people can
grow musically and socially.
Signing is an integral aspect of the choir and the signs used are derived from a range of programmes, enabling
people who may have difficulty expressing themselves vocally to communicate more easily. Choirs for hearing
impaired people are well-known, but the Hands and Voices style of combining singing with signing is less usual
because it empowers people with a wide range of disabilities to reap all the benefits associated with being part of
a choir, as well as being a great fun thing to do.
The choir performs a diverse repertoire of inspiring and fun songs, many of which are written by Hands & Voices
very talented members, who are also the driving force behind the choir.
A committee of members takes on much of the day to day running of the choir and requested the setting up of
our Apprentice Training Programme (one of first initiatives in the UK to train learning disabled musicians as
workshop leaders) so that they could share their skills with others, which has now developed into one of the most
active parts of our work.

Charity Reg No: 1072902 Reg. in England: 03500128

Tel: 01904 626965

E Mail: info@aamedia.org.uk W: www.aamedia.org.uk