museum accessibility

When one goes to the theatre or a museum, the experience is typically very one dimensional such that there is limited opportunities to engage with the art. As Papalia writes, “There are more than three ways to engage with a piece of art.” In the theatre, a visitor could meet actors prior to or after the performance or actors could engage the audience during the performance. In the museum, a guide can provide a description of the work. Papalia remarks how the individuals who have guided him through various museums provide him with an enriched experience as each person provided a unique perspective of the art, the museum, and the visitors. How can a museum be more accessible? How can we engage other senses beyond vision and hearing? There are museums that encourage participants to engage with exhibitions, but not all museums have these types of exhibits. To increase accessibility, museums and theaters need to cater to different learning styles. One way of accomplishing this may be to hold special events once a month for disabled individuals where museums can encourage active engagement with the art. This can take the form of activities such as crafts in show rooms while explaining the work of art that the participants are trying to replicate. These types of workshop events could be open to the public to create active engagement in these activities between members of the disability community and the rest of society.