The Science Museum Group, the world’s leading group of science museums, has appointed international award-winning accessibility consultancy firm Direct Access to undertake accessibility reviews of key museum sites.
Full site audits of iconic locations will be undertaken to identify areas of good practice and where plans can be put into place to enhance the accessibility of each site.
The locations include: Science and Industry Museum, Manchester; National Science and Media Museum, Bradford; and Locomotion, Shildon.
In a separate contract, the Science Museum Group has also invited Direct Access to advise on the curation and programming for a new gallery that will be announced later in the year. The new exhibition space will aim to equip 11-16 year olds with a greater understanding of roles in the STEM sector.
“We are delighted to be working with the Science Museum Group across four iconic locations,” said Chief Operations Officer, Steve Dering (pictured).
“Drawing on our experience of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and working with Grade Listed buildings in the UK and Ireland we will work with the Science Museum Group to identify ways of developing accessible experiences. With sites currently closed due to COVID we will also look at ways of ensuring an accessible reopening with safety measures in place.”
As well as physical access, accessibility will be considered for neurodiverse visitors as well as those who are deaf, blind or partially sighted.
