The project called 'Art for the blind' aims to enable the multi-sensory exploration of a very important monument of imperial Rome, the Ara Pacis Augustea, and the other works housed in the museum dedicated to it.
It was promoted by SIFI on the 80th anniversary of its foundation (1935)
Thanks to an innovative technology, developed by the Venetian start-up Tooteko, it will become possible to enjoy, through the tactile touch of the work, the simultaneous listening via headphones of the audio explanations, drafted by teams composed of art historians, language experts for the blind and creative people specialised in the field of accessibility for visitors with disabilities.
The innovative 'Art for the Blind' project is sponsored by national associations particularly sensitive to the problems of the visually disabled: S.O.I. (Società Oftalmologica Italiana); I.C.M., Istituto dei Ciechi di Milano; I.A.P.B. (International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness Italia Onlus).
The media presentation of this initiative took place on 18 November during a press conference in the prestigious Auditorium of the Ara Pacis Museum.
Fabrizio Chines, as SIFI President, illustrated the initiative promoted by SIFI on the occasion of its 80th anniversary.
Alessandro Benetton, on behalf of shareholder 21 Investimenti, expressed deep appreciation and interest in this innovative project.
Gilda Lombardi for Tooteko described the characteristics of the technology that will be applied to the Ara Pacis audio-tactile project.
Finally Deborah Tramentozzi, blind since birth, moved the Auditorium with her testimony of blind people and their relationship with works of art.
On 26 November, to coincide with the SOI Congress in Rome, the project was also presented to the world of ophthalmology with an extraordinary opening of the Ara Pacis for visits to the museum circuit and a convivial event, at the Fuksas Lantern, during which Fabrizio Chines for SIFI and Matteo Piovella representing the Italian Ophthalmological Society presented Art for the Blind to the ophthalmologists who attended.
Dr. Carmelo Chines
Direttore responsabile
English 
Italian