BlindArt

BlindArt
Founded	2004; 20 years ago
Location	London, England;
Area served	United Kingdom
Method	Direct Aid / Program Funding
Website	BlindArt Homepage

BlindArt is a British charity that was established in 2004 to educate the public about the needs of people who are visually impaired and to promote the idea that lack of sight need not be a barrier to the creation and enjoyment of works of art. BlindArt exhibitions typically contain paintings, sculptures, installations and other works of art that have been designed to engage all the senses. BlindArt pieces are created by sighted artists, blind artists, and partially sighted artists.^[1]

BlindArt was founded in 2004 by the Iranian artist Sheri Khayami who has been visually impaired since childhood. The charity gained national attention in the United Kingdom following its 2005 Sense and Sensuality exhibition at the Royal College of Art in London. The exhibition was made up of pieces created by the finalists of the UK's first annual competition to create pieces of artwork that can be appreciated by visually impaired people.^[2] Annual competitions have been held since, with pieces of artwork from the exhibition for sale and proceeds used to create a National BlindArt Collection.

Unlike conventional exhibitions, visitors to BlindArt exhibitions are encouraged to touch and interact with the exhibits, with latex and cotton gloves provided for this purpose.^[1] The experience is enhanced through the use of audio description and braille signage. Plinths are also specially designed to allow wheelchair access.^[3]

In September 2009, the National BlindArt Collection was given a permanent home at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford,^[4] where it can be viewed by the public.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b Kennedy, Maev (3 March 2005). "Donning gloves, visually impaired exhibition-goers get to grips with art". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
^ Adams-Spink, Geoff (2 March 2005). "First 'blind' art exhibition opens". BBC News. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
^ "Closing your eyes to art may help you to see". Hampstead and Highgate. 4 March 2005. Archived from the original on 19 July 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
^ "National BlindArt Collection moves into Royal National College for the Blind". Culture24. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
^ May, Philippa (15 September 2009). "Hereford's RNC to house BlindArt Collection". Hereford Times. Retrieved 20 February 2010.

External links

BlindArt website
BlindArt at RNC - Royal National College for the Blind website
"BlindArt, registered charity no. 1104980". Charity Commission for England and Wales.

[Guardian-1] Kennedy, Maev (3 March 2005). "Donning gloves, visually impaired exhibition-goers get to grips with art". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 February 2010.

[2] Adams-Spink, Geoff (2 March 2005). "First 'blind' art exhibition opens". BBC News. Retrieved 19 February 2010.

[3] "Closing your eyes to art may help you to see". Hampstead and Highgate. 4 March 2005. Archived from the original on 19 July 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2010.

[BlindArt-4] "National BlindArt Collection moves into Royal National College for the Blind". Culture24. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2010.

[5] May, Philippa (15 September 2009). "Hereford's RNC to house BlindArt Collection". Hereford Times. Retrieved 20 February 2010.

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v t e Royal National College for the Blind
Notable people	Thomas Armitage Francis Joseph Campbell Tony Larkin
Assistive technology	ClearText Hoople Mountbatten Brailler RoboBraille Talking Tactile Tablet Vinux
Athletics	2010 IBSA World Blind Football Championship Hereford Futsal Club
Media	Blind Young Things
Related topics	BlindArt Great Maytham Hall Hereford College of Education Rowton Castle
Category

v t e Organisations for visually impaired people in the United Kingdom
Charities	Action for Blind People Blind in Business BlindArt Blind Veterans UK Bradbury Fields British Blind Sport Cardiff Institute for the Blind Fight for Sight Galloway's Society for the Blind The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Henshaws Society for Blind People Kent Association for the Blind Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People National Library for the Blind Royal London Society for Blind People RNIB SeeAbility Sightsavers Visionary Vista Warwickshire Vision Support
Assistive technology	Dolphin Computer Access
Leisure	Traveleyes
Media	RNIB Connect Radio Talking Newspaper Association of the UK
Schools and colleges	Dorton House Exhall Grange School Jordanstown Schools Joseph Clarke School Linden Lodge School New College Worcester Queen Alexandra College RNIB College, Loughborough RNIB Pears Centre for Specialist Learning Royal Blind School Royal National College for the Blind Royal School for the Blind (Liverpool)