How do I create an accessible audio guide?
In this way, you enable barrier-free access to your content and create inclusive delivery.
Imagine visiting a museum, but instead of simply strolling through the exhibitions, you are guided through a symphony of sounds, detailed descriptions and stories as well as tactile experiences. But why are accessibility and multisensory important? In January 2024, Swissinfo reported that inclusive cultural enjoyment is hardly possible for people with disabilities. For many people with disabilities, this is not just a question of comfort, but of accessibility.
The integration of accessible and multi-sensory audio guides in museums is revolutionizing the way we experience art and history. In this article, we highlight the importance of these innovations and how they make museum visits more accessible and richer for everyone, with three specific examples from the Gewerbemuseum Winterthur, the Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst and the Museum für Gestaltung.
Accessibility in museums means more than just installing ramps and elevators. It's about creating an inclusive experience that offers all visitors - regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities - the same opportunity to enjoy art and culture. Audio guides play a central role in this. They provide an auditory accompaniment through the exhibitions, which is particularly essential for people with visual impairments.
Audio-Cult's multi-sensory audio guides expand the concept of accessible education by engaging multiple senses. These innovative tours offer a more comprehensive and immersive experience that enriches the museum visit for everyone.
The Gewerbemuseum Winterthur has implemented innovative accessibility measures. It offers audio guides that have been specially developed for people with visual impairments. These guides combine detailed audio descriptions with tactile experiences so that visitors can feel the structure and shape of the materials.
Inclusion is a top priority at the Migros Museum of Contemporary Art. The museum uses audio-descriptive audio guides and videos in sign language that convey visual and auditory information. These guides provide a comprehensive description of the works of art, making a visit to the museum an experience.
The Museum für Gestaltung also relies on a variety of mediation methods. At the center of the exhibition Design for All - Diversity as the Norm focuses on five international design studios whose work incorporates the diversity of society and makes our environment more accessible. Audio guides from Audio-Cult are therefore also available to accompany the exhibition. Some innovative highlights of the exhibition can be discovered by listening to an audio-descriptive guided tour.
The integration of accessible and multi-sensory audio guides is a decisive step towards more inclusive museum experiences. They enable all visitors, regardless of their individual abilities, to experience art and culture in all their depth and diversity. There are numerous specialist agencies, initiatives and funding programs that support such projects. Here are three brief examples:
Regional programs are being developed to make culture more accessible. In the Swissinfo report, Stéphanie Zufferey, member of the Pro Infirmis management team, says: "You can do as much cultural mediation as you want. If the person themselves doesn't feel that they have the right to participate, then they won't come."
At Audio-Cult, we work closely with museum mediators and interest groups to optimize our offer for as many needs as possible. For museums, this means not only expanding their audience, but also enriching the visitor experience beyond just seeing. The future of museum experiences is multi-sensory and barrier-free - making them more exciting and accessible than ever before.
How are great audio experiences created?
