Introduction to case studies
Many museums, galleries and heritage sites have developed excellent services for blind and partially sighted people. A few case studies are listed below to offer ideas and inspiration to other venues. This selection is in no way comprehensive and is based on feedback RNIB has received from blind and partially sighted people.
Whilst each venue included is unique, what each have in common is the fact that their services have been developed in consultation and partnership with blind and partially sighted people.
Colchester Museums
Colchester Museums has established a consultation group of disabled people, the Portal Group, and has since been pioneering approaches to access and representation of disabled people.
The Portal Group has helped Colchester Museums to develop services for blind and partially sighted people at Colchester Museums such as an audio guide, touch stations around Colchester Castle and tactile maps in Hollytrees Museum.
Hereford Museum
Hereford Museum and Art Gallery have been working in partnership with the Royal National College of the Blind to improve access for blind and partially sighted people.
The Museum and Art Gallery have offered work placements for blind and partially sighted students. These students have audited existing facilities at the Museum and have helped the Museum to develop an extensive range of accessible formats, descriptive audio guides, tactile images and touch items around the museum. They have also influenced the display of objects and design of exhibitions.
Hereford Museum and Art Gallery were winners of an RNIB Simply the Best Award in 2004.
Laing Art Gallery, Tyne and Wear Museums
The Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle, part of Tyne and Wear Museums, has a huge range of tactile models.
Working in partnership with sculptor Loz Simpson of Topografik, the gallery has developed a tactile bronze, a bench carved with tactile motifs from the collection, a tactile model of an Arts and Crafts movement stained glass window and a talking tactile model of the whole gallery.
As part of the 'Look, Touch Listen and Smell' project, the Laing gallery have also developed pre-visit information in the form of braille, audio and tactile information that blind and partially sighted visitors can borrow in advance of a visit.
The Laing has also in the past created a Sensory Access team, a group of blind and partially sighted people who have led tours around the gallery.
Manchester City Art Gallery
Manchester City Art Gallery have worked with a steering group of blind and partially sighted people to develop a range of services.
A descriptive audio guide of the gallery has been developed, alongside tactile and large print maps. A number of works within the gallery can be touched as part of a touch trail. In the Craft Gallery, there are a selection of objects made from the material used in the gallery that are designed to be explored by touch.
Manchester Museum of Science and Industry
Manchester Museum of Science and Industry has worked in partnership with Henshaws to review and improve access at the museum.
The museum recently welcomed 70 people to a consultation day to try out a series of services at the museum and to offer feedback on how these services could be developed in the future.
Michelangelo exhibition, British Museum
The 'Michelangelo Drawings: closer to the master,' is a temporary exhibition held at the British Museum in 2006. The Michelangelo exhibition offers visitors large print, braille information, a descriptive audio guide and books of tactile versions of Michelangelo's drawings. This provision is available within the galleries for all visitors to use and was available from the day that the exhibition opened.
National Portrait Gallery, London
The National Portrait Gallery has a track record of undertaking outreach work with blind and partially sighted people.
During 2005 and 2006, the gallery developed an exhibition called 'Fame!' that was created by blind and partially sighted people.
Royal Academy, London
The Royal Academy of Art have developed processes so that all temporary exhibitions now have large print information, descriptive audio guides and trained personal guides available.
Somerset House, London
The Courtauld Art Gallery at Somerset House runs a programme of description events for blind and partially sighted people.
In addition, they have also run projects involving young blind and partially sighted people art students that have resulted in new access resources for the gallery.
SS Great Britain, Bristol
The ss Great Britain in Bristol have developed an audio guide for blind and partially sighted visitors. The audio guide, has been developed in partnership with a focus group of people with sight loss, particularly Mark Austen, who originally audited the ship as part of the Talking Images project in 2001.
Brunel's ss Great Britain was presented with a special architectural award from the Civic Trust for accessibility in 2006.
Staircase House, Stockport
Built in around 1460, Staircase House was originally a medieval hall. The House offers a descriptive audio guide, a touch tour and a tactile model which recreate 500 years of historical development of this local heritage landmark.
Developed in consultation with Disability Stockport, the access services at Staircase House were awarded a Civic Trust Access Award in 2006.
Tate Modern, London
Tate Modern's I-map project is an online art resource designed for blind and partially sighted people. The website incorporates text, audio, image enhancement, animation and raised images in order to enable visitors to explore concepts of modern art.
I-map won a Jodi Award for web accessibility in 2006.
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland
Launched in 2005, 'Coming to Our Senses' is an project which aims to open up the National Museums Northern Ireland for blind and partially sighted visitors.
The project is being delivered by a three-way partnership between the National Museums Northern Ireland, The Blind Centre for Northern Ireland and the Braille Unit of Maghaberry Prison
Working with blind and partially sighted people, the project has resulted in a range of new services at the Museums including new descriptive audio guides, touch objects, tactile maps, description events and changes to exhibition design.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum runs a wide range of events and workshops for blind and partially sighted people.
The museum also has large print information, braille and tactile books, access technology on computer terminals and a growing number of touch objects.
Know of further case studies?
If you have further case studies to add to this list, please email leisure@rnib.org.uk.