The first accessibility description for people with various disabilities has been created as part of the pilot project, Agents of change. Art mediation for an inclusive society and accessibility of contemporary art, carried out by the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art (LCCA). It was created for the art park - exhibition of contemporary art Mobile Museum. Next Season. It is on show until August 29 at the former Boļševička textile factory at Ganību dambis 30 with free entry.
From July 1, each and every visitor is invited to attend the exhibition accompanied by specially trained art mediators and assistant guides. Get acquainted with the accessibility conditions of the area: https://mobilaismuzejs.lv/en/accessibility/.
Mediator-guided group and solo visits for people with various disabilities can be scheduled by August 28. Contact project manager Lība Bērziņa at 28649014, Māra Žeikare at 29586893 or mara[at]lcca.lv .
In a limited sense, the pandemic has given every one of us the chance to recognize the way disabled people are facing various limitations every day. How does it feel when you have no access to culture events? What is it like when we can enjoy culture only digitally and access museum collections only via virtual tours? Contemporary art is essentially inclusive and one often needs help to understand it. This is, then, the first project of this kind, and similarly accessible and educational materials to help people with various disabilities get acquainted with contemporary art will be created for other LCCA exhibitions and events through 2021.
The idea of social inclusivity in art cuts across all the topics of this year’s LCCA exhibitions, both the art park Mobile Museum. Next Season and the international Survival Kit festival held annually. Likewise, artist Anna Priedola’s work, to be created late this year as part of the Agents of Change international project, will be dedicated to seniors affected by dementia. With this project, LCCA is increasing public accessibility of contemporary art, inviting everyone to visit exhibitions and events, especially those people who have spent the year in isolation and have impaired vision, hearing or mobility, or have mental health problems.
Agents of Change are expressly taught art ambassadors or mediators. They are experts coming from different industries, both art professionals and amateurs who have learned skills and acquired knowledge on art mediation, the social power of art, and solving zones of conflict in their work with visitors, including people with impaired hearing, vision and mobility, or who have developmental disorders. The studies are continuing throughout the summer, and mediators will be present at LCCA exhibitions both this year and in the future. The project is carried out with support from the special purpose program KultūrElpa of the State Culture Capital Foundation. The project is co-funded by the EU’s Creative Europe program.