Taking Flight Joins PiPA

As summer draws to a close and families head back to school, Taking Flight is embarking on a new term of our own by joining the Parents and Carers in Performing Arts (PiPA) Programme.

PiPA champions parents and carers across the performing arts through research, lobbying, and sector-wide advocacy. In an industry where stability is rare, their work helps creative workforce members balance their careers with caregiving responsibilities without having to step away from the art they love.

For Taking Flight, joining this pledge is a natural fit. As an organisation led by and working with Deaf, Disabled, and Neurodivergent artists, flexibility and accessibility are already embedded in how we operate. We know first hand how systemic barriers push marginalised creatives out of the industry. While our core focus remains on access for Disabled artists and audiences, we want to ensure our working culture fully supports all people, including Parents and Carers

What does this actually mean for Taking Flight?

We will be working closely with PiPA to develop a tailored action plan, ensuring our day-to-day operations and employment practices confidently support parents and carers. This isn’t a one-off initiative—it is an ongoing commitment to continually review our practices so we remain leaders in breaking down barriers and keeping performance accessible to all.

Taking Flight Executive Director Louise Ralph said:

“PiPA and Taking Flight is a natural partnership. We are both striving toward the same goal: ensuring theatre and the performing arts are as accessible and inclusive as possible for everybody. We’re excited to join the programme alongside other industry leaders.”

Taking Flight Artistic Director Elise Davison said:

“As a parent working within the performing arts industry, I have experienced firsthand the challenges of balancing caring responsibilities with career opportunities and the barriers faced by parents in this field. I wish PIPA had been available when I was a touring actor and freelance director, as it would have been instrumental in supporting my career and wellbeing. I am very pleased that Taking Flight and PIPA will be collaborating to promote greater flexibility and inclusivity within the arts sector for all.”

PiPA Co-CEO & Creative Director Anna Ehnold-Danailov added:

“Having Taking Flight join our community is incredibly exciting. We share the same values and goals in creating a theatre sector that is more equal and inclusive. This partnership strengthens our collective mission to build a truly equitable performing arts landscape.”