AIM member Blandford Town Museum has completed a ground breaking project made possible by a £25,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. “Reaching Out with Sound” aims to bring history to the visually impaired and disabled using Navilens codes alongside exhibits in the museum. These codes will link to the Navilens apps on visitors’ smartphones, providing audible information to replace or supplement the written captions.
The town museum is the main repository of artefacts, ephemeral material, local accounts and oral histories relating to Blandford and the surrounding district. Its extensive collection ranges from prehistoric times through the town’s medieval development, the Georgian reconstruction of the town centre after it was destroyed by fire in 1731, to the arrival (and eventual departure) of the railway, with exhibits highlighting the evolution of education, trade and agriculture in the area.
The museum itself is housed in an 18th century coach house, and the design of the building means that the first-floor exhibition area can only be reached by a fairly narrow staircase. Much of our collection has therefore been inaccessible to visually impaired or disabled visitors, and this lack of access may also limit the contribution of those who would like to work with us and carry out research. Additionally, some potential visitors, including residents in care homes, find it difficult to come to the museum in person.
This project is designed to bring these communities to the museum, or take the museum to them. It will increase the number of visitors who will be able to access and, should they wish, contribute to the museum and its work to preserve our local heritage. Closer collaboration with these communities will also allow us to better reflect their stories in the museum’s collection.
The Navilens codes are linked to oral descriptions, music and sound effects that describe and explain the exhibits. These will also be available through YouTube and on our website, along with associated photographs and video, for those who are unable to come into the museum.
A visitor questionnaire will evaluate specifically the audio interpretations and general visitor impressions. An outreach programme will take the facility to Dorset care homes and special schools. We aim to include all communities in what the museum has to offer!
“We are delighted to have received support from the National Heritage Lottery Fund for our project Reaching Out With Sound. Thanks to the National Heritage Lottery Fund Players, we are finally able to not only provide access to our exhibitions, but will be able to promote full participation in the heritage of the Blandford area to a large number of people who have previously been excluded by the traditional practices of museums. We are hugely excited by this opportunity!”
Sylvia Hixson Andrews, Blandford Museum Director
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