Derby Museums introduces accessible heritage experiences for visitors affected by sight loss

Derby Museums is pleased to launch a new offer to improve access and participation in the arts for sight-impaired visitors. Developments include audio descriptions of key paintings in the much-loved Joseph Wright Gallery and the introduction of bookable tactile object-handling sessions for groups.

The developments follow a period of community consultation with Derby’s Impaired Visual Society and Sight Support Derbyshire, whose volunteers all have lived experience of sight loss. Volunteers conducted an access audit of Derby Museums’ sites and made recommendations that have been instrumental in shaping these improvements.

Ten major works by eighteenth-century artist Joseph Wright, including ‘The Orrery’, ‘The Alchymist’ and ‘Self-Portrait at the Age of About Forty’, now feature audio descriptions. These commentaries provide detailed descriptions on the people, objects and spatial arrangements within each painting, allowing visitors with sight loss to build a mental image through descriptions of colour, texture and setting.

Additionally, a number of handling boxes have been curated, featuring objects from Derby Museums’ collections, such as archaeology, Egyptology and fossils. Groups can book a guided session to handle objects including a mammoth tooth, a canine of a hippopotamus and a tibia from a cave hyena, all found at Boulton Moor in Alvaston. Those interested in ancient Egypt can explore Egyptian pottery, replica shabtis and imitation scarab beetles.

Lucy Bamford, Senior Curator of Art and the Joseph Wright Collection, said:

 “We have had a long-standing desire to improve the accessibility of our collections and are really pleased that with the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and with a range of community partners, we have been able to bring this to fruition. These changes bring Joseph Wright’s masterpieces to life for visitors who are vision-impaired or who might be looking for a little more depth and detail behind the paintings.”

Alongside the group handling sessions and audio tours, additional accessibility improvements have been implemented. Lighting at the Museum of Making has been enhanced and increased visibility demarcations now highlight architectural features that could present obstacles to visually impaired visitors.

Janine Derbyshire, Head of Exhibitions and Events, added:

“After 18 months of collaboration with our local community, we are delighted to be launching this new offer. Listening to volunteers’ experiences and the barriers they face has underscored the impact we can have on lives by making our galleries a more inclusive space.

I have found it incredibly rewarding to see the confidence of the volunteers grow through regular visits to the museum. They have worked with us to make our buildings and collections accessible to so many and should take pride in the difference they have made.”

Derby Museums’ front of house and learning teams have also received specialist training delivered by Derby’s Impaired Visual Society, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and East Midlands Sight Loss Council. The training has enhanced staff awareness of visual impairments and ensures visitors experiencing sight loss receive a warm and informed welcome.

Dannie Gage, volunteer at Derby Impaired Visual Society, said: 

“I have been working alongside Derby Museums improving accessibility for sight impaired customers for the past two years. It has been an honour and a privilege to implement various initiatives to enable those with sight impairment to enjoy local arts and culture. 

We have worked with the staff at Derby Museums to develop sight awareness, devise engaging audio descriptions and collaborate in designing an immersive touch tour experience. 

For me, a member of the deaf blind community, I am thrilled to have played a part in allowing others like me to benefit from local arts and culture without barriers.”

Further accessibility tools are now available across Derby Museums’ sites. Large magnifying sheets and magnetic lights assist with viewing collections, whilst large print menus are in place in the River Kitchen and Coffee House cafés. Soon, PENfriend devices from the Royal National Institute for the Blind will enable visitors to access audio labelled menus via voice recordable stickers.

Interested groups can book a tactile object-handling session, or find out more about accessibility at Derby Museums, by contacting info@derbymuseums.org.