On 24 February 2017 from 1.30 to 4.30pm, we held a symposium at Tate Modern - 'Bridging the Gaps: Exploring the link Between Art & Audio Description' - as part of our Tate Exchange programme, Ways of Seeing Art: www.shapearts.org.uk/Event/tate-exchange-2017

We gathered a panel of advocates and practitioners of audio description in conversation with curators and museum professionals to examine the gaps between access and artists, galleries and audiences. How can we work together to bridge these gaps through creative and innovative means? This event was for those interested in applying audio description to contemporary art. With a focus on how blind and partially sighted people connect with art, we explored how creativity, innovation, technology, knowledge of art and the user experience enhances the current offer.

The Panel:

Chair: Tony Heaton OBE (Chief Executive, Shape Arts)
Craig Ashley (Director, New Art West Midlands, Birmingham School of Art)
Dr Louise Fryer (Audio Describer and Audio Description teacher at UCL)
Vidar Hjardeng MBE (Diversity Consultant, ITV News, Chair of Audio Description Association and Shape trustee)
Anna Murray (Assistant Curator of Public Programmes & Access at Tate)
Zoe Partington (Disability Art Consultant and Creative Equality Trainer for the art, heritage and cultural sector)

We live-streamed the symposium, via This Is Tomorrow. Please feel free to tweet us your thoughts - just tag us - @ShapeArts.

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Shape Arts' Tate Exchange programme 'Ways of Seeing Art' took place at Tate Modern from 23 - 26 February, with a showcase of artworks, guided audio description creation, and free workshops. Click here for full information.

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For the full list of symposium attendees, please click HERE

A transcription of spoken responses to the symposium is downloadable at this link HERE

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You can find us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ShapeArts

Banner image c. Andy Barker

www.thisistomorrow.info

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