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Blind Visitor Experiences at Art Museums

Simon J. Hayhoe

Blind Visitor Experiences at Art Museums seeks to answer two questions:

Given the guiding principle of visual art being understood only by sight, what do people understand when sight is diminished or not there?
Moreover, given the experience of blindness, what are the effects of vision loss or no vision on a cultural identity in art?

It does this by exploring seven in-depth case studies of visitors to the education department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the experiences of leading groups by two teachers. In addition, this book includes findings from participant observations in classes and touch tours for blind and visually impaired people at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

After reading this book, readers will understand both passive and active social exclusion from the museum’s facilities (active exclusion is defined as a deliberate act of exclusion based on the belief that blind people are incapable of understanding visual art, whereas passive exclusion is defined as exclusion resulting from an aspect of miseducation, such as inappropriate building design or learning materials, or a lack of training, knowledge, resources, access materials or buildings).

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 234 • Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜

978-1-4422-7205-7 • Hardback • May 2017 • $109.00 • (£84.00)

978-1-4422-7206-4 • eBook • May 2017 • $103.50 • (£80.00)

Subjects: Business & Economics / Museum Administration & Museology

Blind Visitor Experiences at Art Museums

Hardback

eBook

Summary

Blind Visitor Experiences at Art Museums seeks to answer two questions:
1. Given the guiding principle of visual art being understood only by sight, what do people understand when sight is diminished or not there?
2. Moreover, given the experience of blindness, what are the effects of vision loss or no vision on a cultural identity in art?
It does this by exploring seven in-depth case studies of visitors to the education department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the experiences of leading groups by two teachers. In addition, this book includes findings from participant observations in classes and touch tours for blind and visually impaired people at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

After reading this book, readers will understand both passive and active social exclusion from the museum’s facilities (active exclusion is defined as a deliberate act of exclusion based on the belief that blind people are incapable of understanding visual art, whereas passive exclusion is defined as exclusion resulting from an aspect of miseducation, such as inappropriate building design or learning materials, or a lack of training, knowledge, resources, access materials or buildings).

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 234 • Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜

978-1-4422-7205-7 • Hardback • May 2017 • $109.00 • (£84.00)

978-1-4422-7206-4 • eBook • May 2017 • $103.50 • (£80.00)

Subjects: Business & Economics / Museum Administration & Museology

Author

Simon Hayhoe is lecturer in education at University of Bath and research associate in the Centre for the Philosophy of Natural & Social Science, London School of Economics, United Kingdom. His PhD is from the University of Birmingham and his Md. from the University of Leicester.

Table of Contents

Part I: Theories on Blindness, Disability and Art
Chapter 1: Why Do We Think That People Who Are Blind Cannot Understand the Visual Arts?
Chapter 2: The Earliest Art Education of People Who Are Blind

Part II: Case Study – Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Chapter 3: The Metropolitan Museum of Art: A New York Icon
Chapter 4: Experiences of Verbal Imaging
Chapter 5: Experiences of Teaching and Independent Visits
Chapter 6: The Two Questions

Reviews

Simon Hayhoe writes fluidly and pointedly and has unexcelled knowledge of the blind, education and the arts, in modern times and in the past. He is today’s go-to authority.
— John Kennedy, FRSC, Author, Drawing & the Blind

Dr. Hayhoe's book takes us on a fascinating journey led by an expert guide highlighting via case study and argument the passive exclusions our premier art museums demonstrate to people with no vision. He delivers a nuanced and persuasive account as to why we need a greater understanding of creativity, identity, and agency. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this welcome resource.
— John Ravenscroft, Chair of Childhood Visual Impairment, University of Edinburgh

Blind Visitor Experiences at Art Museums

Simon J. Hayhoe

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