![\"A](\"https:\/\/newcastle.nsw.gov.au\/getmedia\/49525e37-2a64-4284-a842-b4d448a40e18\/Fayen-d%e2%80%99Evie-NAG-WEB.jpg\")
Artist Fayen d’Evie engaging with a tactile interpretation of a work of art by Brian Robinson which forms part of her sculpture, ( reflecting air ) “…Touch enabled her to discern minute details… which often pass unnoticed…”, <\/em>2025. Design and fabrication: Feather Edge. Newcastle Art Gallery, Australia, commissioned with assistance from the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, and proudly funded by the NSW Government 2025. \u00a9 the artist. Photo: Roni Bintang<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery provided the ideal opportunity to ensure access and inclusion were at the heart of how our community can experience our reimagined facility,\u201d Ms Morton said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFrom using an artistic and access-led solution to the physical challenge created by the space under the staircases for visitors who are blind or have low vision, to developing our first digital guide, which has already been accessed by more than 8,000 visitors, we are committed to collaborating with community members with lived experience to deliver better outcomes for everybody.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saturday\u2019s event will feature internationally acclaimed artist Fayen d\u2019Evie and Central Coast-based Auslan trainer and interpreter Thomas Doe, who will give visitors a chance to learn more about how access-led solutions are being embedded permanently in the new Gallery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Digital guide Nancy takes visitors on a 24-stop tour around the ground floor collection exhibition with audio, Auslan-interpreted video and written descriptions, which can be accessed using a visitor\u2019s personal device via the Newcastle Art Gallery website or QR codes throughout the space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The guide was developed using a \u2018by community, for community\u2019 model, with contributions and expertise from local d\/Deaf consultants and community members, Auslan interpreters, artists, accessibility advocates and First Nations consultants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was named in recognition of Nancy Tapp, a much-loved volunteer of 36 years at Newcastle Art Gallery, to celebrate the role that Gallery guides play in shaping the unique experience of every visitor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thomas Doe said being involved with Newcastle Art Gallery to develop Nancy was a meaningful experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Art Gallery team approach the project with open minds and a genuine commitment to inclusion,\u201d Mr Doe said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cProviding Auslan access means d\/Deaf and hard of hearing people can do more than just view the artwork \u2013 they can connect with the stories, understand the artist\u2019s intention, and fully experience the exhibition.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As well as contributing to the development of Nancy, Fayen D\u2019Evie was commissioned to create the architectural-scale sculptures that enable visitors to move safely around the two floating staircases on the ground level of the original 1977-built Gallery, which no longer adhere to modern building code standards for people who are blind or visually impaired. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tactile versions of key works of art and braille incorporated into the sculptures also allow people to engage through touch with the stories of the Gallery, which d\u2019Evie said was important for her when developing the sculptures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wanted these sculptures to be invitations not barriers, and architectural prompts for conversation between visitors, sighted and blind alike,\u201d d\u2019Evie said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey honour the original staircase structure, while creating a tactile veil around it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fayen d\u2019Evie\u2019s sculpture was supported by a $50,000 grant from Creative Australia and a $50,000 grant from the NSW Government Arts and Culture Infrastructure Grants program, while Nancy was supported by City of Newcastle and a $10,000 Museums & Galleries of NSW grant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Co-chair of City of Newcastle’s Access Inclusion Standing Committee, Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk, said designing spaces with accessibility as priority means better outcomes for everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArt should always be for everyone, and the Newcastle Art Gallery team should be commended for their work to ensure one of our city\u2019s key cultural landmarks can be better enjoyed by all,\u201d Cr Adamczyk said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaking those improvements is a key outcome from our Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) which is up for renewal in 2027. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s currently undergoing early engagement, and I encourage the community to get involved and share their experiences with us to make sure we continue building a Newcastle that works better for everybody.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Community members can find out more and make a submission on the DIAP via the Have Your Say page<\/a> on City of Newcastle\u2019s website, before Monday 15 June. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Saturday\u2019s Intersensorial Conversations event starts from 11am, with more information and limited bookings still available on the Newcastle Art Gallery website<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Art lovers are being invited to celebrate two groundbreaking commissions that are creating a more accessible and inclusive Newcastle Art Gallery for thousands of visitors. A panel talk and Auslan-interpreted tour on Saturday will highlight the development of the Gallery\u2019s first access-focused digital guide, Nancy, and provide insights into the world-leading sculptural solution to … Continue reading “Accessibility through art broadening experiences at expanded Gallery”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-newcastle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38818"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38818\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38819,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38818\/revisions\/38819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}