• Studio Voltaire has step-free access throughout.
• You do not need to pay to visit.
• We are open from 11:00 to 18:00 on Wednesdays to Sundays.
• We are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
• There are usually fewer visitors in the mornings.
• There are usually more visitors on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Some artworks and products in our shop may include adult themes.

Our ongoing commitment is to remove and reduce barriers to visiting us. Studio Voltaire understands disability within the Social Model. We want our buildings and programmes to be as accessible and inclusive as possible. This means welcoming, safe and easy to experience for everyone.

Our staff are aware of a range of access requirements and are here to support you. 

Please get in touch if you have any specific queries about accessibility. After your visit, please share feedback about your experience so that we can continue to improve.

Step-free access

Studio Voltaire has step-free access throughout. Outside the main entrance of our building, there is a dropped kerb.

The entrance is step-free, and the automatic sensor-operated doors swing outwards towards the garden. In warmer months, the doors may be left open.

A lift is available if you are visiting an artist in our studios on the first floor. The lift has a glass door and is opened using a handle. The lift door dimensions are 90 cm x 200 cm. The lift dimensions are 150 cm x 108 cm x 213 cm. The lift is operated by holding down the button on the inside of the lift.

Self-contained, all gender accessible toilets

All of our toilets are self-contained and are all-gender. We have five toilets, three on the ground floor and two on the first floor.

There is an accessible toilet with baby change facilities on the ground floor.

All three toilets on the ground floor feature a permanent artwork by artists Joanne Tatham & Tom O’Sullivan. The interior walls are covered in brightly coloured ceramic tiles, which may affect visually sensitive people.

Images of the inside of the toilets on the ground floor are here.

There is a second accessible toilet on the first floor, which is accessible via the lift or stairs and has plain white walls. 

The nearest Changing Places toilet is located in Lambeth Town Hall.

Assistance animals

Registered service and assistance animals are welcome in all areas of our building. 

We can only welcome trained assistance animals in our Gallery space for insurance and safety reasons.

If you plan to visit us with an assistance animal other than a dog, please contact us to discuss your visit in advance.

If you require a water bowl, please ask at the Welcome Desk. 

Baby feeding and changing

We welcome visitors who are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding their babies in all areas of the building. 

On the ground floor, there is an accessible toilet with baby-changing facilities. Please let us know if you need any assistance.

Safety measures

Face masks are available from the Welcome Desk if you prefer to wear one, along with hand sanitiser for visitors.

Seating

There is seating in the garden, the entrance and the ground floor corridor.

Please ask the Welcome Desk if you would like additional seating throughout our spaces.

Exhibitions and events

We try to make our exhibitions and events accessible to as many people as possible, but how we do this can depend on the exhibition.

You’ll find specific accessibility information on individual pages for events and exhibitions as listed on our 'What's on' page.

British Sign Language (BSL)

British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation for events is available on request. Please contact us before your visit so we can arrange this for you. We require two weeks' notice to confirm an interpreter.

Ticketed events

We offer free tickets for paid events for people accompanied by carers. Please contact us to arrange a ticket.

Sensory access

Studio Voltaire has a Gallery, Project Studio, Events Studio and private artist studios spread across two floors of our building. The entrance on the ground floor is also home to our restaurant, Crispin at Studio Voltaire. 

Some areas can be busy and loud, especially at the entrance and the restaurant. Quieter areas include the Garden and Gallery. Please ask at the Welcome Desk if you need help finding a quieter space. 

To make our building more comfortable, you can borrow ear defenders, earplugs, a sensory pack and tinted glasses. Please ask a member of staff at the Welcome Desk.

Due to the varied nature of the art we show, the content of the exhibitions can sometimes be distressing or inappropriate for some audiences. Signs are placed at the entrances of each space containing adult content, strobing lights or dark spaces.

The temperature varies slightly as you move through our building, depending on the seasons. Coat pegs are available in the restaurant to hang warmer layers of clothing.

Visual access

Information about current exhibitions and events is available in large print. Magnifiers are also available. Please ask at the Welcome Desk.

Auditory access

Where possible, all films are subtitled. Visitors can borrow transcripts of films and audio works on display from the Welcome Desk.

Digital Access

We are committed to making our websites accessible to everyone and aim to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards. 

Our websites use UserWay, an AI-powered accessibility widget that provides real-time accessibility enhancements to help us meet compliance standards like WCAG 2.1, the Equality Act, and Section 508. It offers tools such as keyboard navigation, screen reader optimisation, contrast and font adjustments, AI-generated alt text and text-to-speech functionality. To access UserWay, select the person icon in a blue circle at the bottom right of any webpage. If you experience any issues with our website, please contact us with details of the problem and the page URL.