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  • 1.  Seeking resources on accessible object labels

    Posted 11-24-2020 01:04 PM

    Greetings!

     

    Our small team is currently working to reinstall our museum's permanent collection. The major goals of this project include increasing the diversity of artists represented, updating our interpretive strategies, and improving the physical accessibility of our galleries (including increasing seating options and lowering hanging heights by 2-3 inches).

     

    At the moment, we are specifically focused on making our in-gallery object labels as accessible as possible to visitors with low vision. We would be very grateful to receive suggestions or resources (general or specific to your museum) on recommended font, font size, leading/spacing, contrast, printing materials (e.g. paper, clear vinyl, opaque vinyl), etc. for tombstone/chat labels.

     

    We would also be pleased to read style guides shaping the content and language of labels and other interpretive texts at your institution. Any words of encouragement (or cautionary tales) about decreasing interpretive word count in order to increase font size and spacing would likewise be welcome.

     

    On a related note, guidelines for-or examples of-large print label binders (or digital equivalents) would likewise be appreciated, as would any resources on writing effective visual descriptions. (We currently offer both of these resources for a portion of our collection, but would like to expand and improve upon these offerings. Although we have not yet incorporated Braille or other tactile forms of communication into our interpretive strategy, it would be wonderful to learn of resources and success stories.)

     

    With many thanks and kind regards,

    Jason

    ____________

    Jason Vrooman

    Chief Curator & Director of Engagement

    Middlebury College Museum of Art

    jvrooman@middlebury.edu

     

    AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo, Baltimore, May 16-19, 2024, click to learn more


  • 2.  RE: Seeking resources on accessible object labels

    Posted 11-25-2020 07:24 AM
    Hi, Jason - over the past decade, we have re-installed and re-interpreted (or cleaned/improved the installation of - in the case of our cast gallery) every 'permanent" exhibition in the museum, partly triggered by a major accessibility construction project.  As with temporary exhibitions in our rotating gallery, we have assayed virtually every method in the "book."  This has included numbers corresponding to hand-held guides/catalogues; QR codes; on-wall/pedestal labels with expanded labels in shared guides (the latter also available for purchase in our shop).  In at least one case, we numbered the objects and created one large wall-label with the corresponding text.

    The interesting thing about the COVID era is that it has pushed us into an approach we were moving towards anyway - ensuring that everything is available through apps.  We have ipads for visitors to borrow, but in this era, we guess no one wants to handle them - even with sanitizing process in plain view.

    This makes it possible to provide as much information as possible and allow visitors to choose what they want to to read (and eventually hear) and what not.  In addition, since we are an Academic museum serving the general public as well, the parent institution's IT and Communications departments have stepped up as never before to assist us - because of COVID.  We had to improve our wi-fi access (1886 steel and masonry structure) which IT helped with immenseley.  Museum staff is also learning more and more how to create "posts" as on social media that are accessible and interactive and relate directly to exhibitions with much more information than is realistic on the wall.  We are re-writing our cast gallery labelling as welle  I have long had dreams of interactive maps on the wall with the locations of the original ancient works.  Now that is obviated, both by COVID and ... technology!.

    These approaches still present a problem in our temporary exhibitions where we just don't have the staff to create an app for each new exhibition.  We've used numbers and hand guides/catalogues in the past, but we are guessing that even though these are free to take home, they will not want to touch them, so we will experiment with limited wall labels this coming year, set low with as large type as possible.  Since these exhibitions are 95% contemporary art, I hate that kind of labelling because I believe it detracts from just enjoying the work, but ...


    Vivian F. Zoë, Director
    Slater Memorial Museum
    108 Crescent Street, Norwich CT 06360
    860-425-5560 vox
    860-885-0379 fax

    "Inspiration is for amateurs - the rest of us just show up and get to work," Chuck Close, 2003


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  • 3.  RE: Seeking resources on accessible object labels

    Posted 11-25-2020 09:32 AM
    Edited by Gregory Dobie 11-25-2020 09:34 AM
    See the J. Paul Getty Museum's COMPLETE GUIDE TO ADULT AUDIENCE INTERPRETIVE MATERIALS: GALLERY TEXTS AND GRAPHICS, at https://www.getty.edu/education/museum_educators/downloads/aaim_completeguide.pdf

    ------------------------------
    Gregory Dobie
    Editorial and Educational Consultant
    San Antonio, Texas
    ------------------------------

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  • 4.  RE: Seeking resources on accessible object labels

    Posted 11-25-2020 11:26 AM
      |   view attached
    In addition to the Getty manual  I would take a look at the Smithsonian Accessible Exhibition Design Guidelines: https://www.sifacilities.si.edu/sites/default/files/Files/Accessibility/accessible-exhibition-design1.pdf

    Ford's Theater has also done a lot of work in this area and could be a great resource. They received a grant to create an advisory committee that guided their practice and reinstallation. Sarah Jenks, Director of Education could be a good resource to speak with.

    The attached has also been a useful guide.

    Lastly, I would keep in mind web accessibility as you move through this project as it should be developed hand in hand with onsite exhibition material. https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/

    Best

    ------------------------------
    Mark Osterman, Ed.D.
    Digital Experience Manager and Head of Education
    Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Coal Gables, FL
    ------------------------------

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  • 5.  RE: Seeking resources on accessible object labels

    Posted 11-25-2020 01:13 PM
    Jason -

    re: Resources on writing effective visual descriptions, you might
    consider my book, "Electric Lemons: Interpretation and the Art of Writing."

    It's available from Acorn Naturalists, here:
    https://tinyurl.com/y4obwlaz <https://tinyurl.com/y4obwlaz>
    and directly from the publisher, Skysinger Press, here:
    https://skysingerpress.com/electric-lemons/
    <https://skysingerpress.com/electric-lemons/>

    Judy
    Judy Fort Brenneman
    Greenfire Creative, LLC


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  • 6.  RE: Seeking resources on accessible object labels

    Posted 11-25-2020 05:25 PM
    Hi,
    You could contact these people to see what they can do for you:
    'Bye...

    --

    Jean-Luc Vincent


    Administrateur du SIA
    Direction des collections, de la conservation et de la restauration
    Direction générale des affaires autochtones et du patrimoine culturel
    Parcs Canada, Gouvernement du Canada
    2630, chemin Sheffield, Ottawa, Ontario, K1B 3V7
    Messages: jeanluc.vincent.parcsparks@gmail.com / Cell. non fiable 613-720-4418 / Fax 613-990-6627

    AIS Administrator
    Collections, Curatorial and Conservation Branch
    Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Heritage Directorate
    Parks Canada, Government of Canada
    2630 Sheffield Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1B 3V7
    Messages: jeanluc.vincent.parcsparks@gmail.com / Cell. unreliable 613-720-4418 / Fax 613-990-6627

    450 000 km2 de souvenirs     / 450 000 km2 of memories




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