Recently we had an art show in our home town. It’s an accessible gallery space, with ramps and an accessible toilet, and we did get one visitor on a mobility scooter.
Art is usually hung at a height that assumes the viewer is an adult, and standing up. We took the decision to hang art at various different heights so that some of it was actually inconvenient for standing adults – who could and did crouch down to have a look.
During the course of the week we had a lot of people bring children in. I had the pleasure of watching children work their way along the images that were at a good height for them, looking at the art and enjoying the experience. I’ve never been to a show that hung anything at a child’s eye level before.
It’s all too easy as an able bodied person to go into a space and only see how that space works for you. It’s all too easy to assume everyone else using the space will use it in the same way that you do. I’m committing to thinking more about this, and trying to make what I do in spaces more accommodating of more people.
Here’s a video of the exhibition in which you can see the child-level art, amongst other things.
November 6th, 2021 at 8:01 pm
Reminds me of the fact that most folk talks to people in wheel chairs by STANDING in front of them and looking down to them. This is an unproper way of addressing others. I really love your idea of having pieces of art hangig at different heights! Wonderful, indeed!
November 8th, 2021 at 8:19 am
The idea that standing up is the normal thing to do needs challenging on so many fronts…
November 7th, 2021 at 8:05 am
Brilliant! That’s a wonderful idea and we even get to hear and see you in action too. 🙂
November 7th, 2021 at 10:58 pm
This is a wonderful idea. Since having my toddler I’ve noticed how many ‘public’ spaces are unwelcoming of children – as if they are not quite people.
November 8th, 2021 at 8:18 am
Agreed, and it isn’t that hard to make inclusive changes.