We are pleased to share that we have been awarded a Small Open Grant to realise our project ‘Art for Every Sense’ which aims to improve access to our collection for the blind and visually impaired.
This grant was awarded by Museum Development South West, with thanks to support from Arts Council England. This will be ongoing between May 2025 and January 2026 but importantly a permanent feature of our museum.
Our aim is to improve access to our collections for the blind and visually impaired, by providing tactile samples and audio descriptions of the artwork in our collection. A special thanks to Mindseye, Safran, Sight Loss Council Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire Talking Newspapers plus our invaluable volunteers Dave, Julie, Angela and Chris.
So far we have launched our audio commentaries in conjunction with our special exhibition Totally Tactile (click for more details). You can now visit our galleries and listen to a description of nearly every item in our permanent collection. Just ask at the shop for an audio guide! We have also introduced tablets with high contrast images on, to take around the galleries and add to the experience – designed for those with some vision. Finally, we are working with Safran in Staverton to create replicas of our more fragile 3D objects that can be touched.
We are always taking feedback on these provisions, so please let us know if you have any thoughts.
If you are blind or visually impaired and want to help us test these things, please get in touch!
Email Hattie or call 01452 733 942
