Make Art and Culture Accessible
Sight Loss Councils (SLCs) are working with museums, galleries and theatres nationwide to make art and culture accessible. Our goal is to ensure blind and partially sighted (BPS) people can access, experience and participate in the arts.
Arts and culture can play a significant role in the lives of BPS people. For example, music, tactile art and audio described performances enable us to experience art through hearing, touch, and other senses. They also provide powerful outlets for self-expression, communication and creativity. This helps build communities, facilitates discovery and creates a sense of belonging. We may also use art inspire change.

Volunteers interacting with a tactile display
Our work to make art and culture accessible
SLCs have witnessed some incredible work in making arts and culture more accessible and inclusive. For example, we recently launched an audit tool designed by SLC volunteers to identify a venue’s accessibility. This includes theatres, museums, art galleries and other performance space. The tool allows us to have a consistent approach when we are invited to consider a venue’s accessibility.
SLCs also deliver vision awareness sessions to staff at venues. These ensure that BPS visitors have a positive and immersive experience when attending performances, exhibitions and other events.
Tactile displays, 3D-print and audio description

A woman interacting with a painting
Appreciating that not every museum exhibit can be touched, we are currently supporting venues in the production of 3D-printed tactile objects. A blind or partially sighted person can then handle these to gain greater context in terms of texture, size, pattern, etc.
Other examples of our work to remove barriers created by glass display cabinets include creating tactile artwork, increasing access through QR codes, providing audio descriptions of exhibits and distributing grab cards.
We also provide feedback during the creative writing stages of a new piece of musical theatre. SLC volunteers collaborate with playwrights to ensure that the subtle inferences shown on stage are conveyed without the need for additional audio commentary. This is because we believe that the audio-descriptive elements should be integrated into a piece of theatre and included in the dialogue and libretto itself.
In all cases, successful outcomes are achieved because of co-production and consultation with those with lived experience of sight loss. We look forward to continuing our work to help shape inclusive experiences for BPS people with an interest in arts and culture throughout the country.
SLC Coordinator Belle said:
“Access to art and culture can be joyful and empowering, and sight loss doesn’t prevent this. There are many ways to make art and culture accessible to blind or partially sighted (BPS) people, providing us with equal and enriching experiences.
For example, incorporating immersive audio descriptions (AD) into performances allows us to fully participate in the show and experience it alongside other audience members. Additionally, tactile objects in museums can bring history to life, engaging BPS visitors in the storytelling.”