Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) has secured funding through The Purple Guide Grant, awarded by the Events Industry Forum, to lead a transformative 18-month pilot project aimed at making the UK’s live events sector more inclusive.
Led by Dr Anahita Malek, the project brings together Autism Bucks, Catch22, and local partners to explore how live events can be designed and delivered in ways that genuinely support neurodivergent audiences, performers and creative practitioners.
Physical accessibility has long been a focus for the events industry, neurodiversity, including conditions such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, often remains overlooked in high-sensory environments. The project will test practical, real-world solutions to create calmer, more navigated and inclusive events spaces.
Dr Malek said: “This project advances event design literacy across the sector. We are moving beyond awareness toward operational frameworks that can be embedded directly into event planning, risk management, production strategy, and audience development. Our ambition is to position High Wycombe as a demonstrator site for inclusive cultural production, a place where neurodiversity-informed design is tested, evaluated, and refined through real-world live events. By generating applied evidence and scalable models, we aim to provide the wider UK events industry with practical, transferable frameworks that can be confidently adopted across venues, festivals, and touring productions.”
The project will design and test practical approaches to creating neurodiversity-friendly live event environments, generating applied research and real-world insight that can inform broader industry practice.
Alongside the pilot activity, an open-source toolkit will be developed to support events professionals, venues, producers, and cultural organisations in implementing inclusive strategies. This toolkit will provide:
- Accessible guidance and practical adjustments.
- Case-based learning.
- Adaptable frameworks for different types and scales of live events.
By combining sector collaboration with community engagement, the ambition is to position High Wycombe as a place where live events are intentionally inclusive and welcoming to all.
The initiative has already attracted sector attention, with coverage confirmed in StandOut Magazine ahead of the pilot’s launch.
As the project enters its next phase, performers, musicians, creative practitioners, venues, community arts groups, and cultural organisations across Buckinghamshire are invited to engage with the pilot and contribute to shaping a more inclusive live events landscape. Whether you are a venue looking to improve your space or a performer with lived experience, your input will help shape the future of the UK’s cultural landscape.
