Accessibility Survey — Multisensory Public Art for Clifton

SEEKING INPUT FROM OUR BLIND COMMUNITY

Louisville Visual Art and Lead Artist, Liz Richter, are bringing Louisville’s Clifton neighborhood a unique public artwork, sensory accessible to blind people via innovative physical and virtual elements. It is likely that this work will be a free-standing structure with panels carrying imagery and relief, possibly creating a partially-enclosed space that invites exploration via touch and movement.

Subject matter will celebrate the history and character of Clifton, with special emphasis on its blind residents and the long-standing neighborhood institutions that serve them. This website will host regularly updated content and resources that connect to the artwork.

Some members of the Clifton blind community have shared that audio description, sound- or music-producing components, tactile surfaces, high-contrast imagery, a blind-friendly website, and effective Braille signage will increase their enjoyment, encourage return visits, and promote positive word of mouth.

Now we want to hear from you!

Please take a few moments to respond to the following prompts. Your input will help us shape this work to be as enjoyable as possible for blind audiences.

PLEASE NOTE: if this online form is not convenient, you may download a Word version here. You may also email LVA Staff Member, Grant Johnson, at grant@louisvillevisualart.org. He will happily arrange to record your responses by phone, or get the survey to you in a more conducive form.

Name

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1. Will audio description make this public artwork more enjoyable for blind people?

2. Is it important for audio description to be available at the artwork’s physical location without the need for internet access (such as by pushing a button that plays a recording)?

3. Will sound-producing components other than a description make this public artwork more enjoyable for blind people?

Follow up to Question 3:

If you responded 'Definitely,' or 'Very Much So' to #3, please let us know what kinds of sounds would increase your enjoyment. There's plenty of room for new ideas, but here are some we're considering: speakers playing music; wind-activated ‘chimes,’ or similar; resonant surfaces that can be ‘played’ like drums; elements that spin or shake to make sound like rainsticks, maracas, prayer wheels, etc.

4. Will tactile surfaces, such as relief panels, make this public artwork more enjoyable for blind people?

5. Will high-contrast imagery make this public artwork more enjoyable for blind people who have some vision?

6. Will a structure with a semi-enclosed space that invites physical exploration make this public artwork more enjoyable for blind people?

7. Would you be interested to visit a website connected with this artwork where you would find additional content, such as: music, poetry, and prose composed by blind people; images of visual artwork made by blind people; a video documenting the voices of those who brought this project to life (produced to be accessible to blind audiences); links to similar projects in other cities; and additional information about Clifton and its remarkable blind residents?

Follow up to Question 7:

If you responded 'Definitely,' or 'Very Much So' to #7, please let us know how we could most effectively make the website address available to blind visitors at the artwork’s physical location: Braille signage; a QR code; an audio message; some other way?

8. Will imagery of blind people that carefully avoids stereotypes (such as walking with a white cane or helper animal), focusing instead on blind folks contributing alongside sighted folks in all fields of endeavor, make this public artwork more enjoyable for blind people?

What are we missing?

Please offer your suggestions about how we can make this artwork as enjoyable as possible for blind people. We want this project to be rewarding enough to blind audiences that they come back for repeated visits, and extend their involvement via the website, where there will be opportunities to learn and contribute in many ways.

SEEKING INPUT FROM OUR BLIND COMMUNITY

Now we want to hear from you!

Help us re-imagine the way public art feels, sounds, smells, and looks.