The Guide To Exploring Accessible Museums Around The World
At Envision, we champion accessibility and inclusivity, extending our efforts beyond our innovative products to highlight museums globally that are exemplary in welcoming visitors who are blind or have low vision. Here's an expanded list of museums across different continents that have made significant strides in accessibility:
The Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain
The Museo del Prado in Madrid offers a specially designed "Touching the Prado" exhibition aimed at visitors who are blind or have low vision. This initiative allows them to experience art through touch, with three-dimensional reproductions of selected works from the museum's collection. More Museuo Del Prado.
Museo Tiflologico, Madrid, Spain
A unique space created by ONCE, the national blind association in Spain, dedicated to visitors who are blind or have low vision through tactile exhibits and models. More about Museo Tiflologico.
Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK
Offers specialized tours with descriptive talks and touch opportunities, reflecting a commitment to accessibility in one of the world's most renowned art institutions. V&A Accessibility Info.
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C., USA
Known for its "InSight" tours, the Smithsonian provides interactive, descriptive tours tailored for visitors who are blind or have low vision. Smithsonian Access Programs.
National Gallery of Prague, Czech Republic
Offers a VR experience called "Touching Masterpieces," which allows visitors to experience famous sculptures through haptic feedback gloves. Learn about Touching Masterpieces.
The Mary Rose, Portsmouth, UK
Hosts 'Relaxed Opening Mornings' to adjust lighting and sound settings to better accommodate visitors with low vision. Visit The Mary Rose.
Istanbul Modern, Istanbul, Turkey
This museum runs 'The Color I Touch,' an educational program for blind children, which includes guided tours and workshops, demonstrating a robust approach to accessible cultural education. Visit Istanbul Modern Accessibility.
Museum Van Loon, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Offers guided tours specifically designed for visitors who are blind or have low vision, allowing tactile interaction with parts of the collection. Museum Van Loon Visitor Information.
Hands on the Wall, Santiago, Chile
An innovative public art project where murals in Barrio Lastarria are made accessible through tactile panels and braille, bridging the gap between street art and accessibility. Learn about Hands on the Wall.
The Louvre, Paris, France
Provides tours for the blind and low vision community, including tactile tours that allow them to explore replicas and reliefs of artworks to understand shapes and textures. More on Louvre Accessibility.
Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, Canada
Features inclusive design from the ground up, with tactile maps and braille signage throughout the museum, along with tours that incorporate sound and touch. Explore CMHR Accessibility.
Any Museum
Yes, you read that right. Envision Glasses users visiting exhibitions can enjoy detailed audio descriptons of art and installations around them by using the Describe Scene feature. That's not all, they can ask questions about the artworks as well and our AI assistant Ask Envision will quench any art curiosity you have. Check out our smart glasses and our free accessibility app.
Conclusion
We embrace pioneering efforts to ensure art and culture are accessible to all. We are continually inspired to see how such initiatives align with our mission to enhance accessibility, reminding us of the impact technology combined with human ingenuity can have on creating inclusive environments.
P.S: Let us know if we missed your favorite exhibition and we'll be sue to add it to this list as it is by no means exhaustive.
