What is the Better Backstages Toolkit?
The Better Backstages Toolkit is a digital guide with practical tools to help in identifying barriers, as well as checklists, companion guides, and self audits. With these resources, our goal is to support music venues, arts organizations, and workplaces with the necessary steps to create safe, accessible, and inclusive opportunities for artists
About the Project
The Atlantic Presenters Association (APA), in partnership with Eastern Front Theatre (EFT), and Music Nova Scotia, developed the Better Backstages toolkit in 2025 as a resource to help increase accessibility and reduce barriers for venue operators, festival producers, and artists across the performance sector. It contains everything from self-audit tools for performance venues (which can be completed at your own pace), to local resources, artist access riders, and more. Additional resources will continue to be added to the Toolkit.
You can access the Better Backstages Toolkit here.
Want a walk-through with the development team? Take a look at the recording of the Better Backstages Launch event for a brief tour of the Toolkit alongside feedback from performing arts professionals.
This resource will assist venues and artists with creating better backstages, so we can strengthen the performing arts community across multiple sectors here in Atlantic Canada, the traditional home of the Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, Peskotomuhkati, Beothuk (whose culture has been erased), Innu of Nitassinan, Inuit of Nunatsiavut, and Inuit of NunatuKavut.
The Better Backstages toolkit was developed by Meghan Merrigan-Sivani of Apex Arts Access Consulting.