How do we make festivals truly accessible from the first planning meeting to the moment the gates open?

We’re excited to welcome Keanna Louis-Charles, Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager at Ottawa Bluesfest and CityFolk Festival, as our guest speaker for Whimble’s upcoming webinar: “Opening the Gates: Making Festivals Accessible for Everyone.”

✨ In this session, we covered:

• How to secure buy-in from senior leadership and key stakeholders

• Real stories from Bluesfest patrons and staff on accessibility in action

• What event organizers can learn when inclusion is built from the start

Keanna brings her background as a musician, educator, and advocate, along with hands-on experience shaping festival culture, to explore what it takes to create spaces where everyone feels welcome. Let’s rethink the festival experience—so accessibility isn’t an add-on, it’s the baseline.

👤 About Keanna Louis-Charles Born and raised in Ottawa, Keanna is passionate about creating accessible and inclusive spaces through music and community engagement. As the Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager at Ottawa Bluesfest and CityFolk Festival, she leads initiatives that make live events more welcoming for all. A musician, advocate, and educator, Keanna holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Performance Music (Saxophone Studies) from Carleton University and continues to champion accessibility as an essential part of every event experience.

🧡 Host: Emma Brown Emma is the founder of Whimble and a systems thinker committed to reimagining care and accessibility through technology and human connection.

💬 What do you think needs to change in festivals to make them more accessible?