WECIL Logo

WECIL will be closed from midday 24th Dec to Thurs 2nd Jan. Phone lines reopen 9am 2nd Jan; office reopens Mon 6th Jan. Thank you for your patience!

Contact the team: 0117 947 9911

Do you want to email us for assistance? Contact: [email protected]

Volunteering
PA Jobs

Accessibility & Environment Film Festival

ogo for the A&E Film Festival, featuring the bold red letters “A&E” in a rectangular road sign design, surrounded by vibrant illustrations of leaves, flowers, and a bee. This imagery symbolises the connection between accessibility and the environment, themes central to the festival. The nature-inspired artwork underscores the festival’s commitment to addressing environmental and disability issues in harmony.

Listen to this article here

Iconic Bristol cultural venue the Arnolfini is set to host a showcase event for the Accessibility & Environment Film Festival (A&E Film Festival), a Bristol-based initiative that is both Disabled-led and community-driven.

A man with Down syndrome wearing glasses and a blue button-up shirt stands with his arms extended to each side, palms up, and arrows pointing outward from his hands. This is BSL for asking 'Where?' Below him is the word “Where?” in bold text, representing the EasyRead symbol for “where.”

The Arnolfini 

16 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA

Map

A modern calendar page shows March 1 with 'March' in bold white letters on a red background and '1' in large dark gray digits on white. The design uses simple color blocks and a clear, sans-serif font for easy readability.

1 March 2025

1:30pm – 9:00pm

Book tickets

You can book free tickets here.

You can also choose to make a donation to the Arnolfini if you wish.

The first International Accessibility & Environment Festival took place in Bristol in June 2024. The aim of the festival is to highlight the interrelationship between environmental and disability issues.

The organisers drew attention to the alarming rise in the number of Disabled people and those living with chronic illnesses, a trend exacerbated by the global climate crisis. The festival explored the financial and systemic factors driving these developments.

Through film screenings and discussions, the event showcased stories and evidence demonstrating the impact of this crisis—both on individuals and on a broader humanitarian and global scale. The festival provided a platform to bear witness to these challenges, raising awareness and inspiring action to address them.

A Powerful Programme of Films

The A&E Film Festival will showcase 14 award-winning films, carefully curated by Film Programmer Eleni Christopoulou. These feature and short films span a variety of genres, including documentaries, comedies, animations, and experimental works. Each film explores pressing issues at the intersection of disability, accessibility, inclusion, health, and the climate emergency.

Here’s the full programme of events:

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm

Introduction to the A&E Festival project.

A classic analog wall clock shows 12:30 with black hour and minute hands, and a red second hand. Below it, a digital clock displays 1:30 in light blue digits on a black background, likely part of a modern digital interface.

2:00 pm – 3:40 pm

Movements

Comedy, dance, animation, and documentary shorts exploring identity, diversity, and healing

(1 hour, 41 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission).

Featuring:

A round analog wall clock shows 12:00 with black hands and a red second hand on a white face. Below it, a rectangular digital clock displays 4:00 with light blue numerals on a dark background, illustrating different time display methods.

4:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Spirituality, Sustainability & Symbiosis

Short and feature documentaries addressing environmental issues with unique perspectives

(2 hours, 31 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission).

Featuring:

An analog clock with red hands points to 7:00, with a digital display below also showing 7:00 in light blue numbers on a dark background. The clock has a white face and black numbers, framed in black.

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Resilience

Stories of resistance and perseverance against the odds

(1 hour, 26 minutes).

Featuring:

This free-to-attend festival is a brilliant example of how art can be a vehicle for change, highlighting the deep connections between environmental challenges and disability rights.

Arnolfini’s Role in Disability Activism

A black-and-white photograph of a group of Disabled activists protesting outside the Arnolfini arts centre in Bristol. The protest is organised by the Avon Coalition of Disabled People, which later became WECIL and Bristol Disability Equality Forum. The group holds banners and signs with messages such as “Equal Access for Everyone,” “Disabled People Unite for Our Rights,” and “Arnolfini – A No-Go Area for Disabled People.” Some activists use wheelchairs, while others stand together in solidarity. The background features the Arnolfini building, with its distinctive brickwork and large arched windows. The protest takes place on a cobbled street, emphasising the inaccessibility issues being challenged.

Arnolfini has a significant role in the history of disability activism in Bristol. In 1989, the venue became a focal point for protest when Disabled activists rallied against renovations that made previously accessible areas, such as the café, inaccessible. This moment was a landmark in Bristol’s disability rights movement, marking one of the first public protests led by Disabled people in the city. The Avon Coalition of Disabled People who held this protest were the collective of Disabled activists that went on to form WECIL and Bristol Disability Equality Forum.

Since then, the Arnolfini has evolved into a champion of inclusion and accessibility. In 2018, it hosted the Untold Stories: Disability Activism in Bristol event, which explored the often-overlooked history of the city’s disability activism. This event featured the documentary Defiant Lives and fostered discussions about the barriers faced by Disabled people.

The Arnolfini continues to be a hub for fostering dialogue and activism. Notably, it hosts WECIL’s Listening Partnership, a vital platform for young Disabled people to share their experiences and influence change. This long-standing collaboration underscores Arnolfini’s commitment to supporting Disabled voices.

Accessibility at Arnolfini

Arnolfini is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience for all visitors. 

  • Step-Free Access: Level entry with automatic doors from the quayside and smooth access via Prince Street to the Café Bar entrance.
  • Accessible Toilets: Available on Floors -1, 0, and 2.
  • Lifts: Access to all floors.
  • Wheelchair Availability: Free-to-borrow wheelchairs, subject to availability.
  • Assistance Dogs: Welcome throughout the venue, with water bowls available in the Café Bar.
  • Induction Loops: There is a induction loop system covering most areas of the Theatre.
  • Quiet Times: While quieter periods cannot be guaranteed, the venue tends to be less busy between 1 pm and 2 pm on weekdays.

For further details about the venue, you can download the Arnolfini Visual Guide, which provides a comprehensive overview of the venue’s layout and facilities.

Getting there

On Foot or Using Mobility Aids

Arnolfini is approximately 0.5 miles from the city centre and 1 mile from Bristol Temple Meads train station. Look out for the Bristol Legible City street information panels, which provide directional guidance from multiple locations around the city.

A person in a red jacket with white accents, dark pants, and black shoes rides a bicycle, smiling widely with joy. The bicycle's front wheel is prominently visible, and both the person and the bicycle are set against a plain white backdrop.

By Bike and E-Scooters

Bike racks are located outside Arnolfini, and several stands can be found on Prince Street. There is a dedicated cycle track leading to the venue, and a public tyre pump is available at the end of M Shed on Wapping Road.

E-Bikes and e-scooters can be hired from various parking stations around the city.

Two people stand on a train platform near the front of a stationary train. One person uses a cane for support and wears a warm coat, scarf, and hat, while the other accompanies them. The train is sleek and modern, with blue and yellow detailing, ready for travel.

By Train

Arnolfini is approximately 1 mile from Bristol Temple Meads railway station. A taxi rank is available outside the station for onward travel, and there are bus routes connecting the station to the city centre (around 0.5 miles from Arnolfini).

For train schedules and accessibility information, visit National Rail or call +44(0)3457 48 49 50.

Two women stand in front of a red double-decker bus with the destination sign 'Centre'. One wears a beige coat and colorful scarf, holding a cane, while the other is in a brown outfit with a black jacket.

By Bus

Most city centre bus services stop within 0.3 miles of Arnolfini. The nearest stops are located at The Centre/Broad Quay and Queen Square. Marlborough Street Bus Station is approximately 1 mile away.

For details on bus services, visit First Bus or call +44 (0)345 646 0707.

A white car with two smiling people seated inside. The person on the left is driving, while the person on the right is a passenger. The car has a personalised licence plate reading “PS22 KPD” and is positioned on a road with visible markings.

 

An illustration of two accessible parking bays marked with the International Symbol of Access. The bays are separated by a wide striped no-parking zone, ensuring additional space for wheelchair users. Two blue disability parking signs are visible, set against a tiled wall backdrop.

By Car

Arnolfini is located around 2 miles from the M32 motorway. Upon reaching central Bristol, follow the brown tourism signs to reach the venue.

Nearby car parks include:

  • The Grove Car Park (BS1 4RB) – 0.1 miles from Arnolfini
  • Wapping Wharf Car Park (BS1 4RH) – 0.2 miles from Arnolfini

Both offer electric vehicle charging points

For Disabled visitors, there are two designated Blue Badge spaces at Mud Dock City Docks Car Park, accessed via The Grove Car Park, and five Blue Badge spaces at The Grove Car Park. Parking in these spaces is free and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

More information on parking can be found on the Travel West website.

By Boat

You can catch a ferry from Bristol Temple Meads or Hotwells to Prince Street Bridge, which is approximately 0.2 miles from Arnolfini. Boats run every 40 to 50 minutes – check the Bristol Ferry Boats website for schedules and fares.

This is a picture of a coach. A coach is a big bus that takes people on long trips. The coach has big wheels and many windows. People sit inside and look out. It might have a company name or a destination sign on it. Coaches are used for traveling far—like going to another city or on holiday. They are different from normal buses because they are bigger, more comfortable, and made for long journeys.

By Coach

Arnolfini is located in central Bristol, around 2 miles from the M32 motorway. For details on coach pick-up locations and parking, visit Travel West or Visit Bristol.

For school or group visits, advance booking is required – please contact Arnolfini for arrangements.

Terms of Use | Privacy | Accessibility

Safeguarding Policy for Children and Adults

Search
Facebook Youtube Instagram Twitter

Design by The Discourse

Skip to content