Historical Context: ABS Museum Accessibility Research
In 2008 the Art Beyond Sight embarked on a series on Museum Accessibility Research and Development Projects. These projects are based on ongoing and expanding partnerships with museums and historic sites. This multi-year series of initiatives includes audience research, development of accessibility materials for the field, development of research and evaluation tools pertaining to access programs, research and documentation of organizational change towards inclusion, and a number of other areas.
An important milestone of this process was Audience Research Study based on focus groups with visitors who are blind or have low vision in six metro areas around the country (2010-2011). This represented the first national study of this kind to examine the needs and preferences of visitors with low vision as well as barriers to full participation in art museums. This initiative was supported, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts, MetLIfe Foundation, and The Renate, Hans and Maria Hofmann Trust.
Multi-site Museum Accessibility Project (2011-2014)
The Multi-site Museum Accessibility Project was designed to continue this work. Funded by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), this initiative piloted training and evaluation tools and supported access programs for visitors with visual impairments. The project also explored the institutional impact of these programs.
Resources that were developed and used throughout the Multi-site Museum Accessibility Project are available for public consumption with proper attribution. Click the box below to access these resources.
Access Multi-site Museum Accessibility Project Resources |