The project, sponsored by SIFI, is part of the programme "L'Arte ti Accoglie: progetti di accessibilità nei Musei Civici" in Rome
Museums 'without frontiers', suitable for all, to offer the entire public the possibility of access by breaking down architectural and sensory barriers and highlighting good practices aimed at inclusion. With this intention Rome Capital, Assessorato alla Crescita culturale - Sovrintendenza Capitolina ai Beni Culturali, with the museum services of Zètema Progetto Cultura, launched in several spaces of the Civic Museum Network a rich offer of tactile routes and training activities for students and specialised operators as part of the 'Musei da toccare' project.
MUSEUMS TO TOUCH
After the experimental 'Art by Touch' project, launched in 2012 on the initiative of MACRO's didactic sector, a tactile-sensorial pathway was built, privileging the personal relationship between the viewer and the work of art through those processes of knowledge and understanding activated by sensory stimuli, necessary for the blind and deaf, but useful for everyone.
At its inception, the project involved 4 museums of the Civic Museum System (MACRO, Museo di Roma, Galleria d'Arte Moderna and Museo Napoleonico), with the realisation of tactile routes and the organisation of training activities addressed to students, specialised operators and people interested in learning more about disability issues.
Here are some of the routes that can be used today:
MACRO
The new Multisensory room presents the permanent tactile pathway of the museum. Housed in the Foyer, it displays three works from the museum's collection that tell the story of three artists and their different paths: Saint Sebastian (1963) by Leoncillo Leonardi, Untitled (2001) by Domenico Bianchi and Column (2000) by Giovanni Albanese. Accompanying, descriptive cards with historical-critical information, translated into L.I.S.
The experimental path takes its cue from the exhibition '100 Scialoja. Action Thought'., organised at the MACRO in March 2015, with the aim of bringing blind people in particular closer to the languages of abstract art, starting from Toti Scialoja's research that went through different phases (gestural, material and geometric), thanks to the realisation of tactile tables executed by the young artist Dario Agati respecting the original materials, a focus that allows the sensorial experience to be enhanced.
CAPITOLINE MUSEUMS
In the Capitoline Museums it is possible to explore some sculptural works by touch and to approach architecture through various typhlodidactic aids: scale models of the buildings in Michelangelo's square, scale reproductions of statues, thermoformed tactile panels in relief and Braille language, books in black and braille on some works in the collection.
Starting with the exhibition 1564-2014 Michelangelo. Meet a universal artist (May-September 2014) guided tactile tours are offered to the visually impaired public at major exhibition events. In addition, in partnership with the 'Museum Onlus Association', a new permanent tactile pathway on some paintings in the Pinacoteca Capitolina - works by Garofalo, Caravaggio, Rubens, reproduced on thermoformed panels - and a civil service project focused on the theme of visual impairment.
Finally, cooperation was established with the most representative bodies in the field of disability: the 'Unione Italiana Ciechi', the 'Istituto Statale Sordi' and the 'Museo Tattile Statale Omero' in Ancona.
TRAJAN'S MARKETS MUSEUM OF THE IMPERIAL FORUMS
Inclusive services and projects also at the Mercati di Traiano. The Museum offers a permanent tactile pathwayWith the cooperation of visually impaired people, 10 museum works with specific characteristics that make them suitable for touching and 3 types of brick curtains corresponding to different historical phases of the monument were identified and made available. Guided tactile tours are offered on this route by Civil Service volunteers.
MUSEUM OF ROME PALAZZO BRASCHI
Always attentive to the needs of the visually impaired public, the Museum of Rome - which is about to reopen to the public with a completely new layout - offers a structured tactile path on the two exhibition floors of the permanent collection.
Le guided tours for the blindwhich has already been running for about two years as part of the 'Museums to Touch' project, will allow guests to enjoy the tactile sensory experience of about ten objects on display in the rooms. At the same time, along the museum itinerary, blind visitors will be able to access information on 10 of the most representative works in the collection, thanks to the presence of as many captions in braille and for the visually impaired, positioned next to the works themselves.
MODERN ART GALLERY
Conceived by the School of Communication and Art Didactics of the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome in collaboration with the Gallery of Modern Art, the didactic project InterGAMlaunched on 24 February 2017, allows the exploration of 26 masterpieces from the museum's collection through devices touch-screen. Although proposed as a 'visible museum', to offer immersive multi-vision and interactive communication through the juxtaposition of images, InterGAM is also aimed at visually impaired and blind users to whom an audio file with a detailed description of the works is dedicated in order to relive the fascination of Rome between 1870 and the 1950s, proposed through period footage. In addition, two of the three touch-screen are placed on ergonomic trestles whose height from the ground allows consultation even by a user with motor disabilities.
NAPOLEONIC MUSEUM
For about a year now tactile visits on a monthly basis, held by operators of the Associazione Bell'Italia '88 and MACRO teaching staff as part of the "Museums to Touch" project. During these meetings blind visitors can come into contact with a series of specially selected sculptures and a series of descriptive cards dedicated to pictorial works.
CASINO NOBILE MUSEUM
Since December 2016, the tactile visits held by specialised staff and organised in collaboration with the MACRO Education Office and the Alice Association. The visits will continue throughout 2017 according to a calendar that can be consulted on the Museum's website and on the Museums in the City portal.
CASINA DELLE CIVETTE MUSEUM
The museum is routinely visited by users with motor, visual, hearing and intellectual disabilities and hosts guided tours by specialised operators, with routes and educational fact sheets of the works that can be 'touched'. The Casina delle Civette Museum has been included in the Biennial Arteinsieme. Culture and cultures without barriers with activities concerning the project Museums to touch and with the possibility of autonomous guided tours using the braille guide in the museum. As part of the ongoing exhibition at the Dependency of the Casina delle Civette Three owls on the dresser. Civettarte were carried out guided tours for Alzheimer's sufferers with specialised personnel provided free of charge by the association that organised the exhibition.
MUSEUM OF ANTIQUE SCULPTURE GIOVANNI BARRACCO
Available a route for the blind or visually impaired on a selection of works with captions in braille which can be made the subject of a 'tactile visit'. Also available on request are 4 volumes of museum 'guides' in Braille, with text and images in relief
Info
Tel 060608 - www.museiincomuneroma.it
Facebook @Museiincomuneroma
Twitter @museiincomune
Dr. Carmelo Chines
Direttore responsabile
In line with these initiatives comes Art For the Blind, unique experimental project conceived and designed for the Ara Pacis Museum by and for the blind. Visitors suffering from blindness or from sight-reducing diseases will be able to access the museum's extraordinary heritage and 'get in touch' with the mythical past of the Urbe, the history of the altar and Augustus through a new and special multi-sensory explorationin a mix of emotion and historical-artistic rigour.
English 
Italian