West of England Sight Loss Council celebrates six years of Arts and Culture Forum success
The West of England Sight Loss Council’s Arts and Culture Forum has celebrated its sixth successful year.
What began as a conversation about accessibility has grown into a recognised platform for collaboration and change. Today, the forum brings together blind and partially sighted people, artists, cultural organisations, and creative professionals from across the region.
Established in 2021, the forum was created to help blind and partially sighted people discuss accessibility with local arts venues and cultural organisations. It now provides a space to share ideas, showcase best practice and improve access across the region.
This year’s event welcomed representatives from organisations including M Shed, Watershed, Bristol Beacon, Bristol Old Vic, Tobacco Factory Theatres, the Roman Baths, the University of Bristol, and a range of independent artists, filmmakers, directors and writers.
Accessibility in action
One of the highlights of the afternoon was ‘An Exercise in Perspective’, an experimental documentary created by Bristol-based filmmaker Reuben Armstrong and Phil Harrison. The film explores Phil’s experience of sight loss and his journey to complete the 2026 London Marathon.
Using archive footage, original music and specially designed camera equipment to simulate Phil’s remaining vision, the film offered audiences a powerful insight into living with sight loss while demonstrating how accessibility can be incorporated into creative storytelling.
Phil Harrison said:
“I can talk for England, so it was great to be able to share my story at the forum. To present it in a way where the narrative was told by the film without the need for audio description showed how accessibility can be achieved without getting in the way.
“Talking through the making of the film with writers and filmmakers in the room helped them see how they could potentially do something similar in other forms, ensuring accessibility becomes more widespread.”
Reuben Armstrong and Phil Harrison discussing ‘An Exercise in Perspective’ with attendees
The forum also featured a poetry performance from visually impaired writer, actor and director Adam Elms. Throughout the afternoon, he created a new poem inspired by the discussions, activities and experiences shared during the event.
Attendees also experienced live audio description during a demonstration from Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. The session paired detailed descriptions of exhibition photographs with tactile experiences. Attendees even handled a real rattlesnake tail, showing how a combination of accessible approaches can bring cultural experiences to life.
Two people present on live audio description during the event
Lived experience leading change
For West of England Sight Loss Council volunteer Liz, the forum demonstrated the value of bringing people together to share experiences and learn from one another.
She said:
“The Arts and Culture Forum is a fantastic opportunity to bring blind and partially sighted people together with local organisations to share experiences.
“This year’s event showed the power of creativity and gave us an opportunity to showcase real-life examples of accessibility working.”
Fellow volunteer Holly added:
“What made this forum so special was the variety of experiences we shared, from Adam’s inspiring poetry to Phil and Reuben’s film and the hands-on museum demonstration.
“These activities showed that accessibility is about much more than providing information. It’s about creating opportunities for everyone to engage, explore and enjoy culture in their own way.”
Reflecting on six years of progress, West of England Sight Loss Council Engagement Manager, Yahya Pandor, said:
“It was great once again to bring together so many people to talk about accessibility in the arts and celebrate the success we have achieved over the last few years by showcasing real-life examples of accessibility in action.
“Knowing this work can be replicated by others across Bristol, it’s a fantastic time for blind and partially sighted people to access and explore the arts.”
Six years after it began, the Arts and Culture Forum continues to bring people together. The event provides a space to share experiences, showcase good practice and inspire change.
As this year’s forum demonstrated, accessibility is strongest when people work together.
Join us
Passionate about making a difference? Want to influence positive change? Our Sight Loss Councils, led by blind and partially sighted volunteers, are recruiting new members. Join us today!
We use our lived experience to create positive change for others. Together, we tackle local issues and work with businesses and service providers to improve the accessibility of their services.
Join us to help ensure visually impaired people in your area can live the lives they want to lead.
Publication date: 27 October 2026