Your venue's website should be as visually engaging as the performances and exhibitions you host. But scroll-stopping aesthetics shouldn't come at the cost of accessibility. Let's explore how to create stunning digital experiences that everyone can enjoy.
Understanding colour contrast
Colour contrast is the difference in luminance or hue between elements in your design. It's what makes text readable, buttons clickable, and content engaging. Without contrast, designs would be indistinguishable – like trying to read white text on a white background.
But sufficient colour contrast goes beyond making text readable—it's about creating engaging digital spaces that match the vibrancy of your physical venue. Just as stage lighting creates focus and atmosphere in performances, strategic contrast on your website guides visitors to key content and actions.
Good contrast serves multiple purposes in arts websites:
- Makes events and show times instantly scannable
- Highlights ticket availability and pricing clearly
- Ensures performance details are readable over production photos
- Maintains brand identity while meeting accessibility needs
- Creates visual drama without sacrificing usability
Why contrast matters
Accessibility
- About 8% of men and 0.5% of women experience colour blindness
- Many users have other visual impairments affecting contrast sensitivity
- Screen glare and environmental lighting can impact visibility
- Legal requirements (WCAG) mandate minimum contrast ratios
Readability
- Makes text legible across all device sizes
- Ensures content remains readable in various lighting conditions
- Reduces eye strain during extended viewing
- Improves comprehension and retention
User Experience
- Draws attention to important call-to-actions
- Helps users quickly find key information like show times
- Makes interactive elements clearly clickable
- Creates clear navigation paths
- Supports intuitive user flows
Brand Impact
- Strengthens visual hierarchy
- Makes content more memorable
- Enhances emotional response
- Improves overall engagement
Colour contrast standards and best practices
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) establish specific contrast requirements that ensure content remains accessible to all users:
Minimum contrast ratios
- Regular Text (under 18pt): 4.5:1
- Large Text (18pt+ or 14pt bold): 3:1
- UI Components and Graphics: 3:1
Implementation best practices
- Test designs across multiple devices and lighting conditions
- Use stronger contrast (7:1) for smaller or thin fonts
- Provide additional visual cues beyond colour (icons, patterns, borders)
- Check contrast in both light and dark modes
- Consider how contrast affects visual hierarchy
- Test with colour blindness simulators
Remember: While meeting WCAG standards is crucial for compliance, optimal contrast goes beyond minimum requirements. The goal is to create inclusive, effective experiences that serve all users while supporting business objectives like ticket sales and event discovery.
Use contrast-checking tools
- Color.review - Shows accessible colour combinations
- Contrast Grid - Test multiple colours at once
- WebAIM Contrast Checker - Test contrast ratios
Real-world challenges for cultural venues
Performance photography
Common challenge: Placing showtimes and booking CTAs over dramatic production photos
Solutions:
- Add a subtle gradient overlay that deepens under the text
- Create contained content blocks with solid backgrounds
- Use semi-transparent dark panels for text while preserving image impact
- Stack content below the image for best results
Example: Park Theater effectively maintains text accessibility over a production photo by using a gradient overlay that darkens at the bottom along with a solid background behind the text. This ensures the text and pink call-to-action button meet WCAG contrast requirements while preserving the dramatic impact of the stage lighting and costumes.
Event listings and calendars
Common challenge: Making dense event information scannable while maintaining contrast
Solutions:
- Use strong contrast for dates and times
- Ensure "Sold Out" and "Limited Availability" messages are instantly visible
- Make prices stand out without overwhelming performance titles
Example: Cultuurcentrum ’t Vondel demonstrates effective contrast in their event listings by using a dark text on a light background for maximum readability. Event titles are given prominence with larger, bolder text, while supporting information like dates, times, and prices remain clearly legible. The black "Tickets" CTA button stands out prominently against the lighter background without competing with the event information.
Box office and booking flows
Common challenge: Creating urgency without sacrificing readability
Solutions:
- Use high-contrast colours for ticket availability counters
- Ensure seating plan colours meet accessibility standards
- Make price bands instantly distinguishable
- Keep booking timers highly visible
Example: Wilminktheater’s seating plan shows how high contrast can be maintained while displaying complex information. Available seats use a clear red outline against the light background, while price bands are distinguished in the legend by colour. The simple grey/red/black palette ensures strong contrast ratios while clearly communicating seat availability and pricing tiers.
Digital signage integration
Common challenge: Ensuring content remains readable when repurposed for foyer screens
Solutions:
- Test contrast in various lighting conditions
- Use stronger contrast ratios than the minimum for bright environments
- Ensure emergency messaging stands out clearly
- Make wayfinding information instantly readable
Example: De Warande's digital signage demonstrates effective contrast for bright foyer environments. The white outlined text on a strong blue background maintains readability from a distance, while essential information like times and locations stands out clearly. This high-contrast approach ensures content remains legible under varying lighting conditions throughout the day.
Practical solutions for cultural venues
1. Text over performance images
Placing text over performance images is a common way to make websites more engaging, but they’re fraught with accessibility challenges. Here’s how you can get the best of both worlds:
- Adding a semi-transparent overlay
- Using a gradient background
- Creating a solid-colour text block
2. Calendar and event listings
Calendar and event listing are essential components of your website. So you want to ensure that:
- Date numbers are clearly legible
- "Sold Out" or "Limited Availability" indicators have sufficient contrast
- Price information is easily readable
3. Call-to-action buttons
Once visitors have discovered events they want to attend, optimising your booking and donation buttons for conversions is essential. You can make them stand out with:
- Strong contrast against both the page background and label text
- Clear hover states
- Consistent styling across the site
4. Common problems to avoid
- Light grey text on white backgrounds
- White text on light-coloured backgrounds
- Text over images or gradient backgrounds
Design tips that maintain your brand
1. Create an accessible colour palette
- Start with your brand colours
- Develop complimentary colours that meet contrast requirements
- Document acceptable colour combinations
- Consider introducing lighter and darker shades of the same colour to broaden your palette
2. Use contrast for hierarchy
- Strongest contrast for primary content
- Medium contrast for secondary information
- Lower (but still compliant) contrast for tertiary content
Let’s make culture accessible to all
- Want to make your website more accessible?
All CultureSuite customers can take advantage of our comprehensive accessibility audit at discounted rates. Just get in touch to register your interest and we’ll get you onto the programme. Get in touch. - Need guidance on accessibility for your venue?
If you're not currently a CultureSuite customer, we recommend connecting with our trusted accessibility partners in your region. For venues in the Netherlands and Belgium, reach out to Digitaal Toegankelijk. UK venues should contact Accessible by Design. - Want to see how Peppered works?
We’re proud of how easy we make it for venues to manage their website. That’s why live event venues around the world trust Peppered. Book a personalised demo. - Looking to partner with us?
If you’re a technology provider, design agency or supplier for the arts and culture sector, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us here. - Want to learn more about digital tools for venues?
Explore our industry insights and expert advice by heading over to our articles, events and webinars, Spotify, YouTube channel or subscribing to our newsletter.
