The Horniman Museum Access Advisory Group is representative of the families and communities of London and South East England as well as the UK. We are as diverse as the Horniman Collections. More importantly, we are representative of the new wave of museum visitors with higher expectations of accessible visitor experience.
And we want to celebrate the inclusive process involved in redesigning the Horniman’s World Gallery.
We represent many strands of people with disabilities and conditions recognised by the Equality Act, and we are honoured to see our innovative display of objects relating to disability, in the gallery.
The journey we took has been as enriching as the experience of Frederick Horniman during his travels around 150 years ago. We always looked forward to our meetings, surrounded by the Horniman Gardens with incredible views of London, reminding us of our wider role in accessibility values. We will never forget the opportunity to handle objects and listen to experts at the Horniman and its Study Collections Centre.
We learned how much disability within the Horniman’s collections was perceived so differently and, most importantly, there was respect and acceptance.
The process may seem slow but the pace and quality of participation meant our voices were acutely listened to. The amount of discussion, debate, negotiation, reflection, reviewing and feedback has been considerable, and considerate. We have been enriched by the Horniman’s inclusive agenda, been listened to, been deeply involved, empowered and enlightened by Horniman people in the World Gallery journey.
The process has been, and still is, will be, a journey for all of us concerned. Thank you for providing access, a real asset for us. All of us look forward to increased inclusive participation, inclusive learning and most of all, inclusive career development within the Horniman’s work in the years to come.
We at the Access Advisory Group are delighted to continue working alongside the Horniman on new developments in enriching visitors’ experiences and demonstrating awareness of accessibility for all, and especially inspiring young Horniman visitors with similar disabilities and conditions.
Penelope Beschizza is a member of the Horniman Museum’s Access Advisory Group
The Access Advisory Group is made up of volunteers who have lived experience of disability and a keen interest in making the museum more accessible to disabled people. For the redevelopment of the Horniman’s World Gallery, which opened in June 2018, the group curated a display of objects relating to disability, for the gallery’s Perspectives area, and consulted on accessibility within the overall gallery design by Ralph Appelbaum Associates – from seating and doorways, to audiovisual displays and children’s interactives.
And we want to celebrate the inclusive process involved in redesigning the Horniman’s World Gallery.
We represent many strands of people with disabilities and conditions recognised by the Equality Act, and we are honoured to see our innovative display of objects relating to disability, in the gallery.
The journey we took has been as enriching as the experience of Frederick Horniman during his travels around 150 years ago. We always looked forward to our meetings, surrounded by the Horniman Gardens with incredible views of London, reminding us of our wider role in accessibility values. We will never forget the opportunity to handle objects and listen to experts at the Horniman and its Study Collections Centre.
We learned how much disability within the Horniman’s collections was perceived so differently and, most importantly, there was respect and acceptance.
The process may seem slow but the pace and quality of participation meant our voices were acutely listened to. The amount of discussion, debate, negotiation, reflection, reviewing and feedback has been considerable, and considerate. We have been enriched by the Horniman’s inclusive agenda, been listened to, been deeply involved, empowered and enlightened by Horniman people in the World Gallery journey.
The process has been, and still is, will be, a journey for all of us concerned. Thank you for providing access, a real asset for us. All of us look forward to increased inclusive participation, inclusive learning and most of all, inclusive career development within the Horniman’s work in the years to come.
We at the Access Advisory Group are delighted to continue working alongside the Horniman on new developments in enriching visitors’ experiences and demonstrating awareness of accessibility for all, and especially inspiring young Horniman visitors with similar disabilities and conditions.
Penelope Beschizza is a member of the Horniman Museum’s Access Advisory Group
The Access Advisory Group is made up of volunteers who have lived experience of disability and a keen interest in making the museum more accessible to disabled people. For the redevelopment of the Horniman’s World Gallery, which opened in June 2018, the group curated a display of objects relating to disability, for the gallery’s Perspectives area, and consulted on accessibility within the overall gallery design by Ralph Appelbaum Associates – from seating and doorways, to audiovisual displays and children’s interactives.
