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Indonesia Council Open Conference 2025
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A Touch of Art in The Dark: Access of Inclusion for the Visually Impaired in Art Spaces

Organised Panel

Submission Description

In art spaces, where the sense of sight takes precedence, visitors are given the experience of 'free-choice learning', allowing them to navigate their own paths and preferences to educate themselves. This freedom relies on access through mobility and interaction that are often hindered for visually impaired visitors. While sighted individuals can intuitively navigate and appreciate art, those with visual impairments require more time and effort to access the same information. This disparity highlights the need for more inclusive art spaces. During the study, four participants from Sentra Wyata Guna Bandung collaborated in a participatory research process through group interviews, experiments, and surveys. The research explores three key areas: lighting, orientation, and touch tours, which have been tested in exhibitions across Bandung and Jakarta over the past two years. Findings show that visually impaired visitors need more time to process information, emphasising the urgency of creating spaces that balance accessibility while maintaining meaningful engagement for all visitors.

Presenters