The “Museum for all” project foresees the provision of a free downloadable guide, available on the museum’s website, that has been designed to narrate the collections clearly and simply through eight specific works.
“[The guide] will change the way of experiencing the museum with the aim of making all visitors feel at ease,” Carlo Riva, director of L’abilità associazione onlus, said.
Mr Riva implemented the project in partnership with the De Agostini Foundation and the museum.
The project is expected to be rolled out definitively in March or April 2018, after an initial period of trial and evaluation.
“Many at GNAM have taken part in staff training in order to be able to provide everyone, and particularly people with learning disabilities, with an assisted reading guide and a permanent educational program,” GNAM educational services manager Emanuela Garrone said.
The project intends to “make the invisible visible”, not just for people with particular disabilities such as Down syndrome or autism, but also for so-called “neurotypical” people, enabling them to overcome their limitations and open themselves up to a different way of experiencing art.
It takes into account characteristics common to people with mental disorders such as concentration and memory problems.
To this end, the description of the museum and artworks uses short and direct sentences so as to transform the visit into a real learning experience.
The artworks chosen for the project include Antonio Canova’s monumental marble sculpture ‘Hercules and Lica’, ‘Battle of San Martino’ by Michele Cammarano, ‘Big Red’ by Alberto Burri, ‘The Gardener’ by Van Gogh and ‘The Three Ages of Woman’ by Gustav Klimt, among the most famous artworks in the GNAM collection.
With ANSA
