Art is for everyone, or so the saying goes — but for people with visual impairments this often doesn’t ring true, especially when it comes to artwork in museums.
The UMFA is working to correct this gap through “Touch Tours,” a program where people with visual impairments can touch certain pieces in the exhibits. Iris Moulton, coordinator of campus engagement, said this is part of a long-term plan to increase the museum’s accessibility.
“We believe at the UMFA that art is for everyone, and we don’t put any limitations on who should be able to come to the museum,” Moulton said.
The Touch Tours began five years ago, and the museum does around five exhibits per year. The pieces featured in the tour are regularly circulated in order to protect the art from erosion. Only sculptures and furniture are on the tours, though the museum is also experimenting with 3D-printing some of the art works, using different textures to represent colors.
Madelyn Stafford, a junior in special education and early intervention who is legally blind, works to improve accessibility at the UMFA. She went on one of the tours as an alternative to a visual analysis assignment for one of her courses. A day later, the museum invited her to come and work with them due to her experience with both education and Utah’s blind community.
“Living with a disability isn’t easy. Everything is on your shoulders to tell everyone what it’s like to have one,” Stafford said. “[The UMFA] heard my voice and wanted to do something about it.”
In addition to the tours, the museum is also working on updating its braille signs and trying to find ways to update the auditory tour so it includes descriptions of the painting, not just the work’s history.
Next month the museum is partnering with the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for an arts and education workshop where teachers will come in and participate in two tours, one sighted and one not. Stafford said programs such as this are great for helping educators learn to teach students with disabilities.
“When I grew up, I didn’t get to do any art ever. I’m a very artistic person, and it was very limiting,” Stafford said. “Just because we have a disability doesn’t mean we don’t have the ability to do art.”
Stafford said there’s “a million and five things the U could do to be more accessible,” but she’s happy with the progress the UMFA has made.
The UMFA doesn’t have any money designated for accessibility, but Moulton is looking to expand the budget for future improvements.
“Right now we’re in the very, very beginning stages of starting the conversation,” Moulton said. “Touching art excessively is never a good idea, even if you have gloves. We need to make sure we’re being mindful of our collection and keeping this important resource open to the community.”
Students who would like to give input to the UMFA about accessibility can contact Moulton at [email protected].
@Ehmannky