Arts Resources and People who are
Blind or Low-visioned
The best and most
beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be
felt within the heart. -
Helen Keller
Page Index:
Audio
Description
AUDIODESCL
A discussion group for those interested in audio
description, the process of providing aural information about performance and
other public events for the blind, the visually impaired, and those with low
vision.
Theatre Resources
and Blind &
Low-Visioned Populations
Blind Theatre
Company - NEW LIFE (NOVI ZIVOT) Hrvatska - Zagreb - Croatia
-
"The Blind Theatre company New Life will soon be
celebrating the fifth decade of its work (1996). The fact that it is the only
theatrical group of blind and visually impaired people in Europe gives the
anniversary a special significance.". This is an interesting site, mostly
a modest collection of articles on the company. 
Theatre By the Blind
New York City Based Theater By The Blind (TBTB) aims to
change the image of the blind from one of dependence to independence, to fight
the stereotypes of the media and show how vibrant, fluid and exuberant the
visually impaired can be, in order to reduce the terror that makes blindness
the third most feared thing in this country after AIDS and cancer and keeps
employment of the visually impaired limited to 26% of those aged 21 to 64.
TBTB claims to be the only theater in the U.S. doing quality professional work
to achieve this goal.
Dance
Companies and Blind and
Low-Visioned Populations
Touchdown
Dance - "Where the blind and sighted move together"
Touchdown movement training is based in a
pleasurable, free-flowing dance form known as contact improvisation. it is
sometimes called an art sport because it combines gymnastic and poetic
qualities, a healing art - because it promotes physical and mental well-being.
It is a movement form uniquely suited to blind and deaf/blind people because
it is based in the sense of touch. The dance emerges from paying attention to
sensations on the surface of the skin and inside the body as you move in
physical contact with a partner. This is a simple text-based website
that offers only an overview of the program and a telephone contact number in
the 510 area code.
Fine
Arts Resources and Blind
and Low-Visioned Populations
Art
For the Blind
"The Education Department at the Art Gallery
of Ontario was approached by the SNOW (Special Needs Opportunity Windows)
Project to participate in development of resource material for teachers who
have partially sighted and visually impaired students integrated in their
classes. The AGO has collaborated with SNOW on the development of a workshop
which provides a model of practice for teaching the arts with visually
impaired students. Therefore, the emphasis of the project, in addition to
developing appropriate and successful pedagogical methodology, is to provide
professional development for teachers in this particular environment."
"The activities undertaken during the workshop aimed to stimulate sensory
awareness, to illustrate the use of arts education across the Snow Initiative
and to suggest ways in which teachers can provide activities for the whole
class which allow the full participation of visually impaired students. The
outline for the program is provided below as reference."
Art
Through Touch
Art Through Touch is a
London-Based organization that provides tuition and a range of high
quality art activities for blind and visually impaired people.
Pádraig
Naughton's Tactile Art Page
The purpose of this Web Site is to share the work
and experiences of this Irish visual artist. Besides displaying his work
online, he aims to stimulate discussion and interest on the involvement of
people with a visual impairment as practitioners in the tactile and visual
arts.
SEE,
HEAR, IMAGINE - Hugo Simberg's on-line exhibition for the visually
impaired
"The See, Hear, Imagine online exhibition
presents the symbolistic world of the Finnish artist Hugo Simberg (b.1873, d.
1917) through six of his works. The works are presented through detailed
descriptions of the pictures and by analyses of their background and
themes."
Music
Resources and
Blind and Low-Visioned Populations
Art Beyond Sight - National Exhibits by Blind
Artists
"National Exhibits
by Blind Artists, Inc., is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization
dedicated to showing the work of blind artists. National Exhibits by Blind
Artists, was founded in Philadelphia in the belief that talented blind artists
deserve the same recognition as writers, musicians and other sighted artists.
The primary objectives are to educate the public with the quality of work by
blind artists, and to create a demand in the professional field of art,
furthering the careers of blind artists and making them part of the mainstream
of life."
Dancing Dots: Automated Braille Music
Transcription and More
Music transcription software for the blind.
Music by Ear
"Guitar and piano instruction in an all audio format
including courses for the blind and visually impaired."
Rachel's
Story
This is yet another inspirational story of the affect of
arts education on child development. In this case though the story is a happy
one from start to finish. Rachael is discovered to have a talent for music and
piano before the age of three. This article in the form of her mother's diary,
shows how nurturing a parent, a community, and the arts themselves can be in
the development of a child.
Multi-Media
and
Blind and Low-Visioned Populations
Blindspots
Blindspots offers reviews of films, specifically from the perspective of
the blind movie-goer. Blindspots offers a very unique and valuable service.
