Town Hall Seattle is strongly committed to accessibility for audiences and artists alike. From our ticketing policies to the capacities of our physical space to our digital practices, our goal is to operate in ways that allow everyone to feel welcome and to fully participate in our programming.
Our Venue
Town Hall’s historic landmark has undergone a $35 million renovation to become an even more accessible home for our city’s conversations and creativity. With this renovation, Town Hall:
- is ADA accessible for audiences. This includes a new west-facing, at-grade entrance and a modern, spacious elevator serving all three levels of the building. Accessible restrooms are available at-grade on the lobby and downstairs levels, and wheelchair and companion seats are available throughout each performance space.
- is ADA accessible for artists and speakers. This includes accessible stages, as well as fully accessible backstage areas, restroom, and green rooms serviced by an elevator.
- includes 17 all-gender restrooms on the lobby level.
- features the permanent installation of our Hearing Loop system in all three performance spaces (The Great Hall, Forum, and Reading Room). Using T-Coil (wireless receiver) technology, the hearing loop system projects voices and sounds directly from the microphone into an individual’s hearing aid.
- includes braille on permanent room signage throughout the building.
- avoids the use of heavily scented cleaners and remains sensitive to chemical use, requesting that visitors refrain from heavy perfumes.
Looking for a more detailed guide about our entrances, floorplans, and policies? Click here.
Our Programs
Town Hall strives to make sure that everyone can participate fully in our programs. We make every effort to provide real-time captioning, ASL interpretation, translation and transcription services, and physical accommodations upon request. Please contact access@townhallseattle.org with questions, to request any of these services, or to let us know other accommodations that would allow you to participate fully.
Economic Accessibility
Town Hall believes that everyone deserves access to fresh ideas, art, and conversations. We strive to ensure that the cost of admission is never a barrier to participation. That’s why our financial model is rooted in radically affordable tickets: almost all Town Hall-produced events are available on a sliding scale starting at $5, and many events are free. Beginning in September 2019, all Town Hall-produced programs will be free for everyone ages 22 and under. If the ticket price to a Town Hall-produced program still poses a barrier for you, please contact communications@townhallseattle.org for economic accommodations.
Economic Access for Rental Partners – We operate our stages with the same deep commitment to economic accessibility; our performance spaces are the most affordable in the region among similarly sized venues. We underwrite rental rates and related services for other small and midsized nonprofits and mission-aligned producers to help level the cultural playing field and ensure that everyone can afford to take the stage. Beginning in 2019-20, Town Hall will explore strategies to provide additional subsidy and support to producers who don’t often see themselves reflected in the Seattle arts & civic ecosystem.
Digital Access – We make audio and/or video recordings of nearly all Town Hall-produced programs available to the public (free of charge), and livestream sold-out programs in order to maximize the number of people who are able to experience the event. You can find Town Hall’s digital content by visiting the Media Library, following our blog, and subscribing to our podcasts and YouTube channel.
Town Hall always asks for active collaboration with our community, and our commitment to accessibility is no different. We invite you to reach out to us with feedback and ideas at access@townhallseattle.org.
Please note that Town Hall does not dictate ticket prices for organizations renting our stages. Our ticketing structure and free youth tickets does not extend to programs produced by rental partners.