Nilgün Güven, founder of Vitae Veritas (affectionately known as VV) recently joined Vision Australia Radio as an on-air guest, to shed light on the crucial, ongoing work that ensures Midsumma remains colourful, joyful and accessible.
Nilgün began by tracing her long history in disability access work. She and her team have worked in this field for nearly 30 years, beginning as an informal collective before formally establishing an organisation during the first year of the pandemic.
Though 2020 was a strange time to consolidate a major project, Nilgün laughed about the sudden clarity COVID brought, “We all had so much time to think.” Instead of pausing, she leaned in, bringing together decades of experience to create a unified force for improving inclusion for blind and low‑vision communities.
What an accessible guided tour looks like
VV’s partnership with Midsumma began long before this year. Each season has involved consulting with community members, gathering feedback, refining offerings and building an approach rooted in lived experience. In 2026, VV launched a formal Carnival Day guided tour, co‑designed with I Can Explore, a specialist mobility group.
A guided tour at Midsumma is far more than a stroll through festival grounds. It’s a curated, sensory‑aware introduction to the sprawling, bustling Carnival environment. Participants explore the sports precinct (even joining in activities), visit the main stage, wander through food trucks, enjoy performances at the picnic stage and spend time at stalls that help visitors access community services, arts organisations and queer groups.
Nilgün emphasised the importance of timing. For many people living with disability, particularly those with conditions affecting thermoregulation, heat can be dangerous. By holding tours earlier in the day and partnering with a festival that has expanded shade, VV ensures attendees can navigate the grounds safely and comfortably.
Even after the tour ends, VV’s team remains available to guide people through the afternoon, when the atmosphere shifts and crowds grow.
A festival that evolves with its community
When asked what has improved at this year’s Carnival, Nilgün highlighted a powerful trend. Access is embedded from the start.
More artists now integrate access into their creative practice. More disabled creators are participating. More lived‑experience consultants are shaping programs. More community members are asking how to get involved.
Still, she noted, accessibility depends on trust, on communities knowing they are welcome, safe and valued at major events. Broadcasting, outreach and ambassadors like Karan all help spread that message.
Nilgün also praised Midsumma for its consistency. Few organisations maintain such long‑term, year‑after‑year commitment to accessibility. The presence of blind artists and disability‑led shows during past festivals shows how that commitment shapes the artistic landscape.
Learning more and getting involved
VV can be found under its full name Vitae Veritas and audiences can stay updated through its website and Facebook page, both of which list accessible arts events across Melbourne. For anyone wanting to engage with future tours, meet the team or offer feedback, Midsumma can also connect attendees directly.
Midsumma Festival runs until February 8. Vision Australia Radio is a proud access and inclusion partner to the annual festival.
Hear, or read, the interview here:
