Access to Heritage Group Wins Award

BRITAIN’S deaf and disabled artists were honoured at an award ceremony in Liverpool.
The DaDa Awards 2008 were presented at ACC Liverpool last night to coincide with International Disabled People’s Day.
The event, attended by Phil Redmond and Mike McCartney, also included a dinner, auction and live performances.

The awards included one for community arts event or group, which was won by Liverpool’s Access to Heritage Group.

Ruth Gould, chief executive of organisers, the North West Disability Arts Forum (NWDAF), said: “The standard of work is getting higher and higher for the DaDa Awards, which makes the judging tougher every year to come up with a shortlist.”

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/capital-of-culture/capital-of-culture-liverpool-news/2008/12/04/dada-awards-go-to-local-talent-100252-22403316/

Testing the Sensory Artworks,Ceiling Box

Kate installed the Ceiling Box in the Oak Parlour, the box contains a section modelled from the stucco ceiling that can be explored by touch, on the lid is a mirror to reflect the ceiling.
Comments from the Access to Heritage testing sessions reported by Carolyn:-
People spent time touching and looking at the box in the oak parlour and liked its smooth soft texture and the reflection of the ceiling. We gained some useful insights into positioning objects – put them in places where there are less ‘non touch’ items, so as not to confuse people! This may mean the box will go on a table nearer the back window.
The ceiling box was popular - They all touched it and guessed what they thought it was. I suppose its a difficult concept if you can’t see the ceiling to start with. Mark thought the mirror was a table. He also said on the feedback form “its good, coz I can’t touch or see the ceiling.” Ellie said ‘ I liked touching it’.
The clocks chimed while we were in a few rooms testing the trail and that got a great reaction too!

Testing the Sensory Artworks, Digital Picture Frame

Kate installed the digital picture frame in the Blue Drawing Room. The picture frame showed pictures of members of the Access to Heritage Group dressed in Victorian style by the piano in the Blue Drawing Room. The slide show is accompanied by piano music Les Hirondelles sung by Joan Sutherland.
Carolyn's feedback from the Access to Heritage group testing sessions:-
The group all loved the photo frame especially the models who thought it was marvellous!!!
The photo frame was enjoyed by its sound rather than the images by the students from the School for the Blind. I let Mark hold it on his knee just so he understood where the sound was coming from.

Testing the Sensory Artworks, Mrs Beetons Cookbook

Kate installed Mrs Beetons Cookbook in the kitchen. The book has herbs and spices inserted into the book which had been glued into solid sections.
Comments from the Access To Heritage Group recorded by Carolyn:-
We gained some useful insights into positioning objects – put them in places where there are less ‘non touch’ items, so as not to confuse people! .. the book in the kitchen may go on a side table.
The group from the Blind School hadn’t been in the kitchen before so they were a little distracted by all the things to take in. They did use the book with help and smelt each spice or herb. Mark said “it smelled like sweet and sour chicken”. Daniel said “the vanilla pod smelt like bakewell tart which is his favourite pudding.”

Testing the Sensory Artworks, Bellowphones

Mike and Jim installed the Bellowphones in the Billiard Room and Great Hall. When the bellows are pressed they trigger sounds and smells.

Carolyn reported from the Access to Heritage Group as they tested the Bellowphones:-
The bellowphones went down well, with mixed reactions to the smells! People seemed to prefer the bellowphone in the billiard room and I wondered afterward if this was because there was a chair to sit on when using it! The billiard sounds were particularly popular.
Some points the group raised:- Consider making the tube (connecting the bellows to the funnel) longer so it can be stretched to reach someone in a wheelchair. Mark had to go ‘side on’ to the bellowphone to reach the bellows, but once he did it worked well for him. He liked all the sounds and some of the smells. They all liked hearing recognisable voices on the sound, in the great hall clips particularly. Daniel said ‘made me think I was in the pub playing snooker”.

Victorian Photo Shoot

Carloyn Murray, the Access to Heritage project coordinator, arranged the Victorian photo shoot with photographer Deana Clarke. Members of the Access to Heritage Project who took part were Lyn, Philip and Sheila. The photos were then up loaded onto a digital picture frame accompanied by the music Les Hirondelles which is the sheet music layed out on the piano stool in the blue drawing room. Here are the images which appear in the frame.