The program "IN TOUCH" launched in 2022 to enable people with sensory disabilities (vision and hearing impairment) to access the permanent Cycladic Art exhibition. The program was realized within the framework of the European Erasmus+ Programme and is implemented with the support of Eurolife FFH, a strategic partner of the Museum of Cycladic Art.
It was designed in close cooperation with the Non-profit Civil Partnership (AMKE) "Me Alla Matia" and HandsUp - the first sign language interpreting agency in Greece - and was launched after a successful pilot run involving focus groups with individuals with sensory impairment.
The program includes the following:
1. Τhematic tour and a mobile showcase for persons with visual impairment.
The thematic mobile showcase includes copies of key exhibits of the permanent exhibition of the museum and also texts in Braille. More specifically, the mobile showcase is a mobile unit with drawers containing copies of artifacts, tactile maps and other materials. These enable visitors with sensory disabilities (visual and auditory impairments) to experience the exhibits for the first time. Accompanied by trained museum staff, two or more individuals at a time will be able to follow a thematic route, taking them on a multisensory tour of Early Cycladic art and culture. Moreover, a floor plan of the exhibition space, tactile maps of Greece and the Cyclades, and real-size copies of exhibits and figurines made of marble or resin are also included. Apart from texts in Braille for the visually impaired, there are texts in large print available for visitors with partial vision, as well as an audio tour of the Collection of Cycladic Art, available in both Greek and English.
2. Multi-sensory museum kit related to Cycladic Culture, featuring the marble figurines of the Cycladic collection of the museum and the associated geographical/historical background.
The museum kit is created to take Cycladic culture also outside the museum. The museum kit contains an embroidered map, a tactile water map, stones, threads, and fragments of replica figurines. A video aimed primarily at teachers and programmers explains how the museum kit can be used for a journey through space and time.
- A series of actions to make the Museum accessible to deaf or hard of hearing persons. The permanent exhibition of Cycladic Art includes a video of a recorded tour in the Greek Sign Language, accompanied by Greek subtitles, and in International Sign, accompanied by English subtitles.
It is important to involve the direct target groups of the actions in all stages of development of the material and decision-making and not just present them with a final product. In this way, the material is produced and developed in a co-creative environment. Fostering collaboration between museums and local disability advocacy organizations to gain insights, feedback, and partnerships in implementing accessibility initiatives can lead to more museums becoming more accessible.
For the implementation of this Best Practice it is important to organize focus groups and several brainstorming sessions as well as pilot sessions with the direct target groups to ensure that the action designed will be relevant and useful.
