British Sign language and Audio Described tours have been launched at Salford Museum & Art Gallery and Ordsall Hall.
The new tours were announced by the Salford Community Leisure group, with the work being a part of, “Unlocking the Collection Accessible Interpretation”, funded by Arts Council England.
The funding comes apart of the alignment with Salford Community Leisure’s push for ensuring inclusivity for the blind, visually impaired and, deaf BSL visitors.
The tours are available on the free Smartify app and can be accessed via QR codes located throughout both museums, or directly on their websites.
Visitors can enjoy the tours while walking through the venues or even from the comfort of their own homes.
The project was developed with the help of local focus groups to ensure the tours meet users’ needs.
Following the launch of the new guided tours one visitor said: ““The audio tour enabled me to navigate around the venue with limited support.
“I had an in-depth explanation of which artefacts and paintings I was looking at, with a detailed backstory to enhance the context.”
It also involved close collaboration with partners including Thomas Pocklington Trust, Greater Manchester Sight Loss Council, Henshaws, Mind’s Eye Audio Description, and Manchester Deaf Centre’s Wellbeing Group.
Deaf BSL users were supported by Deaf presenter Wayne Sharples, interpreter Mark Hetherington, and filmmaker Georgiana Ghetiu, while visually impaired groups helped shape the audio described experience.
Councillor Hannah Robinson-Smith, Lead Member for Culture, Heritage, Equalities, Sports & Leisure, said: “It is imperative that culture and heritage is made as accessible as possible to everyone. These tours are a small but significant step towards a more inclusive Salford.
“The team at Salford Community Leisure have worked hard to make this happen, and it’s fantastic to see technology used to enhance the visitor experience for all.”
The project marks the beginning of a wider effort by Salford Community Leisure to embed accessibility across its cultural venues.
To find out more about what Salford museum has to offer check – here
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