Art and artists with disabilities
Disability Arts Online contains links to disabled artists' sites. A number of these artists are blind or partially sighted.
The Art House is a membership organization that supports the work of disabled and non-disabled artists aspiring to develop their professional practice. It believes that this is only possible through equal access to work, training and accessible exhibitions.
Arts Education for the Blind (AEB) is a US organisation that has developed programmes and materials that can be used by blind and partially sighted people in museums and galleries.
In addition we are aware of the following links directly to blind and partially sighted artists in the United Kingdom. If you know of others, please let us know.
Khaled Alvi, is one of the featured artists in "Painting From A New Perspective".
Art education
The way in which young blind and partially sighted people form an understanding of their world through art has held an understandable fascination with sighted people, both in practical and philosophical terms.
One excellent publication that looks at this subject is What Colour is the Wind - Insights into Art and Visual Impairment, Blagden & Everett, National Society for Education in Art and Design, 1992.
Blind and partially sighted students are shown at work, making artistic choices, using touch, sight or a combination of the two. This publication is out of print, but is available for loan from the RNIB Research Library.
iMap Creative Access is an online art resource for blind and partially sighted people who are interested in art, and for teachers of art.
Other useful contacts
VocalEyes is a registered charity established to service the needs of theatres, theatre companies, museums and galleries who wish to present audio description to their blind and partially sighted audiences.
The Audio Description Association exists to support people and organisations that supply audio description. The ADA supply accredited training in audio description.
Living Paintings Trust is a unique national charity that helps blind and partially sighted adults and children by offering a free library service.
By providing pictures that can be "felt" in Albums and books, with audio commentary, Living Paintings enables people who cannot see to enjoy a wide range of visual treats, be they popular children's books, science, history, famous works of art, the natural world, city tours, gardens, topical themes or great buildings. And membership is free - every item in this charity's library is loaned and posted for free.
If you would like to join Living Paintings call 01635 299771 and or join online at: www.livingpaintings.org
British Museum's Compass online is a database of around 5000 objects, chosen by the curators of the Museum as being representative of its collection. You can view information on individual objects or take one of the virtual tours, including an especially written audio description tour featuring twenty objects from the Museum's galleries in text and on downloadable mp3 files.
Find services and organisations that help blind and partially sighted people on our Sightline Directory.