Unveiling a World of Art for All: a Case Study

Unlocking the Senses: Implementing Strategies for Sensory-Friendly Art Experiences

Wonderful, beautiful, delightful, sensory-rich art shows and art galleries! A vibrant tapestry of creativity. A place where captivating pieces ignite our imagination and inspire awe. But for some visitors, the bustling crowds, bright lights, and cacophony of conversations can transform this artistic haven into a sensory minefield of overload. A sensory-friendly art show is your solution!

And this is where sensory-friendly, accessibility and inclusion practices come in. By creating an inclusive environment, you can ensure everyone, including those with sensory sensitivities, sensory overload, and sensory processing disorders, can experience the joy of art.

Ready to unlock the artistic world for all? Keep reading to discover practical tips on making your art show a truly sensory-friendly experience.

Craft a Compass for Your Visitors: The Power of Gallery Guides

A well-crafted gallery guide is more than just a list of artworks – it’s a powerful tool for fostering accessibility and inclusion. Moreover, by providing a structured and descriptive roadmap, you can empower visitors to navigate your gallery with confidence. And that is regardless of their background or familiarity with art. Here’s how to make your gallery guide a true asset:

Setting Expectations:

• Orient Visitors: Briefly outline the overall layout of the gallery, highlighting key sections, exhibitions, or themes.
• Sensory Sensitivities: Acknowledge potential sensory triggers (bright lights, loud noises). Offer resources like designated quiet areas or earplugs (if available).
• Accessibility Features: Clearly list accessible features like ramps, elevators, and adapted restrooms.

Planning the Journey:

• Checklists and Time Estimates: Include a checklist of exhibits or sections. Help visitors to gauge their progress and plan their visit accordingly.
• Varied Entry Points: Offer different starting points based on visitor interests. For example highlighting chronological order, specific themes, or popular works.

Engaging All Audiences:

• Focus Options: Provide suggestions on what aspects of the artwork viewers might want to focus on. For instance, historical context, artistic technique, or emotional response.
• Family-Friendly Activities: Include interactive elements or scavenger hunts for children to make the experience engaging and fun.

Museum Etiquette Made Easy:

• Ground Rules, Simply Stated: Clearly outline basic museum conduct like maintaining a respectful volume, touching only designated exhibits, and using photography responsibly.
• Visual Cues: Consider incorporating visual icons alongside written instructions to enhance comprehension for all visitors.

By incorporating these key elements, your gallery guide will become a valuable compass, guiding visitors on a personalized and enriching artistic journey.

Helpfully, you can provide visitors with discussion questions and prompts related to art. For instance, according to research titled, “Can Sensory Gallery Guides for Children with Sensory Processing Challenges Improve Their Museum Experience?” by Fletcher et al (2017), family discussion prompting questions can slow down children to focus their thoughts, encouraging them to think about the art in a different light and break down what they see into pieces ¹.

Furthermore, including a map of the gallery with routes outlining which areas are crowded and have higher noise levels vs fewer crowds and quieter noise levels an where bathrooms, water fountains, and information kiosks are located is very helpful for the visitors to get around the gallery. Critically, make sure to consider people’s needs with regard to all eight senses when designing the map. Most importantly, if it’s a digital map, make sure to be accessible for screen readers and include an audio version. On the other hand, if it is a hardcopy version, ensure the font is larger with good contrast.

Create a social story for a trip to your gallery

Social stories are becoming common nowadays. For instance, according to an article titled, “Autism Matters: Making galleries and museums ASD/SPD friendly” by Davis Hofbauer (2016), a social story is a visual representation of what it may look and feel like upon entering a new, specific environment ².

These representations can be interactive flash animations available on the website, simple photo series of real pictures taken at the event venues, or downloadable PDF files. Furthermore, social stories are essential since they help reduce the stress associated with entering a new environment and not knowing what to expect. Likewise, a social story can help children or adults with sensory processing disorders prepare for their visits and manage their expectations upon entering the gallery.

A great tip to create a useful social story is to take real pictures of the gallery, starting from the entrance to the exit. Include minimal text to describe each picture. Make sure to order them in the way one would typically navigate around the gallery. It is important that the social story aligns with the gallery map to avoid any confusion.

Check out the Museum of Modern Art Social Guide!

Beyond Sight: Engaging All Senses at Your Art Gallery

While visual art traditionally relies on sight, there’s a whole world of sensory experiences waiting to be explored! Here’s how to create a truly inclusive art gallery experience that caters to diverse preferences and sensory needs:

Multisensory Masterpieces:

• Touch Tours: Offer guided tours specifically designed for visitors who benefit from tactile exploration. Provide gloves for safe and respectful touching of designated sculptures or textured artworks. This allows them to appreciate the form, texture, and materiality of the piece in a deeper way.

Respectful Exploration (with Permission!):

• Aromatherapy (Use with Caution): For certain artworks, with the artist’s explicit permission and appropriate safety measures, consider incorporating subtle essential oil scents that complement the theme or mood of the piece. However, exercise extreme caution. Strong scents can be overwhelming for some visitors, and allergies are a concern. Always prioritize visitor comfort and safety.

Tangible Textures:

• Material Books: Enhance the visitor experience by offering “material books” alongside artworks. These can include actual samples of the materials used in the creation process, or materials that represent the textures or themes explored in the piece. This allows viewers to engage with the artwork on a more tactile level.

Beyond the Visual:

• Interactive Sound Installations: Consider incorporating touch-sensitive sound paintings or sculptures. These interactive artworks allow visitors to create or experience soundscapes by touching different parts of the piece. This provides a unique and engaging way to connect with the artwork.

Remember:

Always prioritize accessibility and safety. Before implementing any multisensory elements, carefully consider potential sensory overload and ensure clear signage about potential triggers (like essential oils). It’s important to strike a balance between offering enriching experiences and creating a comfortable environment for all.

Building Bridges to Art: Sensory-Friendly Strategies for Inclusive Galleries

At Sensory Friendly Solutions, we believe art should be an enriching experience for everyone. Here are some key recommendations to help your art gallery become a welcoming and inclusive space, catering to diverse sensory needs and preferences:

Empowering Communication:

• Visual Aids for All: Go beyond words! Utilize picture exchange communication systems (PECS) alongside traditional signage and photographs. This fosters non-verbal interaction with artwork, especially helpful for visitors with communication challenges. Signage should also clearly indicate touchable and non-touchable artworks.
• Sensory Tools on Hand: Provide a selection of noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, and water bottles. These simple tools can make a big difference in managing sensory overload and enhancing the gallery experience for visitors.

Lighting the Way:

• Banish the Buzz: Ditch those harsh fluorescent lights! Invest in LED panel lights or light filters to create a calming and comfortable atmosphere.
• Natural Light with Caution: While natural light is always a plus, be mindful of potential drawbacks. Glare, bright sunbeams, and distractions from outside activity can be overwhelming for some visitors. Strategically placed window coverings can help mitigate these issues.

Technology as a Bridge:

• Information at Your Fingertips: Embrace technology! Offer touchscreen tablets with screen readers or QR codes near each artwork. This allows visitors to access information about the pieces at their own pace, reducing stress and anxiety.

A Haven for Calm:

• The Power of a Break: Everyone needs a moment to recharge. Designate a quiet or sensory break area, promoting its location so visitors can take a break if overwhelmed. Comfortable seating is key – consider chairs with calming features like weighted bases or tennis balls attached to the legs.
• A Multi-Sensory Oasis: Transform your quiet area into a haven for relaxation. Dim lighting, calming sounds, and a selection of fidget toys, textured objects, weighted lap pads, and even quiet entertainment systems can all contribute to a sensory-friendly escape.

Investing in Staff Training:

• Sensory-Friendly Staff: A knowledgeable and supportive staff is paramount. Provide training for staff members on sensory sensitivities so they can effectively assist visitors in need.
• The Power of Description: Consider hiring trained lecturers who can offer visually descriptive tours of the artwork, sparking discussions about themes, artists, and exhibitions. Pre-recorded lectures or private sign-language tours for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing further enhance inclusivity.

By implementing these strategies, you can transform your art gallery into a welcoming space that fosters a love of art for all. Remember, creating a sensory-friendly environment isn’t just about accommodation – it’s about opening the doors to a world of artistic exploration and enjoyment. If you want to open doors too, watch our short video about our training membership with courses that teach you all you need to know to create sensory-friendly experiences.

Looking to make your art show more inclusive? Our Sensory Friendly 101 course is a great place to start! Learn the basics of sensory-friendly practices and how to create a more welcoming environment for all attendees.

For those ready to dive deeper, our Training Membership gives you access to all our courses. Watch a video from our founder, Christel Seeberger, to learn more about the membership and how it can help you bring sensory-friendly practices to your events and spaces.

Our Case Study: Transforming an Art Gallery into an Inclusive Haven for All Senses

Kristen Herrington, artist and art gallery owner in Ingramport, Nova Scotia is breaking ground; she was trained and certified by Sensory Friendly Solutions to create inclusive art experiences at her gallery. Her innovative approach is transforming the space into a welcoming haven for all senses, making art accessible to everyone and offering a whole new way for the community and tourists to experience the beauty around us.

Togetherland: An Inclusive Art Experience for All

Inspired by her own experience with single-sided deafness, Kristen Herrington has made all of these changes to create a more welcoming experience:

Making Art Accessible

As a result of our training, Kristen is making several key changes to create a more sensory-considerate experience at Togetherland. For visitors who are sensitive to light, the gallery now offers the option to turn off the overhead fluorescent lights and switch to softer lamp lighting. Additionally, recognizing the importance of sound control, Kristen is happy to turn down or turn off the background music upon request.

A Space for Everyone

The physical layout of Togetherland has also been adjusted to improve accessibility. The gallery features a wheelchair ramp (currently undergoing certification) and spacious aisles for easy navigation. A dedicated quiet seating area with comfortable furniture provides a space for relaxation and reflection.

Together We Grow: offering sensory-friendly art shows

Togetherland is a work in progress, and Kristen welcomes your feedback on accessibility. She is constantly learning about different sensory needs and is eager to hear about your experiences at other inclusive spaces.

Ready, set, go: Unleash the Potential of Inclusion! Read more to explore our case studies and discover how sensory-friendly design can transform any space with these real life examples from more of our clients.

Creating a welcoming and inclusive space for all shouldn’t be hindered by financial limitations. Our insightful blog post, Making Inclusion a Reality: Funding Your Sensory-Friendly Transformation offers a wealth of resources – from grant opportunities to creative fundraising ideas – to bridge the gap between vision and action. After all, sensory-friendly design is an investment in a more inclusive future for everyone. Let’s explore these options together and make your dream a reality!

1. Fletcher, T. S., Blake, A. B., & Shelffo, K. E. (2018). Can Sensory Gallery Guides for Children with Sensory Processing Challenges Improve Their Museum Experience? Journal of Museum Education, 43(1), 66–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/10598650.2017.1407915
2. Davis-Hofbauer, B. (2016). Autism Matters: Making galleries and museums ASD/SPD friendly. https://static.a-n.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Creating-Autism-Friendly-Galleries-and-Museums.pdf