Tiffany Woods, Director, Activities & Impact at VICTA tells us about how they work in partnership with arts organisations to provide hands-on experiences for blind and partially sighted young people to participate in photography and ballroom dancing activities as part of their Arts Award Explore projects.
The flexibility of Arts Award allows us to deliver the Discover and Explore levels for blind and partially sighted children and young people. At VICTA, we believe that blind and partially sighted children and young people should have the same equitable access and exposure to the creative arts as their sighted peers.
Previous Arts Award projects at VICTA have focussed on photography, Latin and ballroom dancing, pottery and ceramics, and creative writing. The biggest question we get asked is ‘how does that work?’ And the honest answer is by providing inclusive and engaging activities while keeping the integrity of the art experience.
Many people are aware of adaptations that are in place to make art more accessible, such as audio descriptions at art galleries, behind the scenes and touch tours when going to the theatre and music accompaniments to silent scenes in films, but is that enough? By providing practical hands-on experiences, VICTA shows blind and partially sighted children and young people that their disability should not be a barrier to the creative world and not to be shy about exploring it.
Working with the London Institute of Photography
Our most talked about Arts Award project is the Explore level in photography, specifically Blind Photography. ‘How does that work?’ I hear you ask. Well, quite simply with the support of a fantastic organisation, London Institute of Photography (LIoP), whose incredible staff are willing to explore the idea of Blind Photography and have the passion to make this work for the young people VICTA support. Working closely with the LIoP, for Explore Part A (Take part), we developed a bespoke course on using a camera, taking street photography, exploring different camera and photographic techniques and digital editing. Founder of the LIoP, Holger Pooten, is inspired by the alternative viewpoint that having a vision impairment brings to photography; coming away from the insistence on a perfect picture and focussing on the theme and subject of the photograph: the beauty in identity. The participants learnt about the LIoP and the work of Holger for Part B (Explore).
They focussed on making their final works for Part C (Create), which involved learning about placement and composition ready to be shared with others for Part D (Share). They shared what they enjoyed and achieved from doing their Arts Award Explore with the group they were participating with, the VICTA community and wider network through an online gallery. VICTA produce online photo galleries after every Arts Award activity so that the children and young people can share their experiences with friends and family, to show what they have been up to and most importantly, break down limiting assumptions that others may have.
I joined the VICTA team after the Blind Photography course with the LIoP was established, however I still remember what a young person said to me, after asking what their inspiration for signing up to the course was:
‘No one has ever bothered to show me how to use a camera. People assume I don’t need to know’
This stuck with me. The assumption that blind and partially sighted individuals don’t want to do or know about photography/videography strikes a huge misunderstanding about what having a vision impairment is all about.
The course focuses on the theme of ‘self’ and ‘perception’ and many of the photographs produced challenge perceptions that others will have, including those that the young people put on themselves.
Explore the fantastic photography produced by Arts Award Explore participants.
Stepping into the world of dance with Step Change Studios
After the winning success of blind comedian, Chris McCausland on Strictly Come Dancing, the interest in blind ballroom and Latin dancing grew, and the assumption of how blind and partially sighted people learn to dance, became public discussion.
Step Change Studios are an established dance company dedicated to making dance accessible to all and they host dance sessions for blind and partially sighted individuals. Providing accessible dance sessions is Step Change Studio’s every day, using directional, supportive language and providing experienced inclusive dance tutors to come on that journey.
Building on Chris’s success, VICTA headed to Step Change’s studios where young people experienced Latin and ballroom dancing for Explore Part A (Take part), spending time perfecting those cha-cha-cha’s and box steps. For Part B (Explore), we heard from a vision impaired dancer who had recently competed at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, and we had the opportunity to connect with an inclusive organisation where participants could continue their dance journey further. Part C (Create) was an opportunity to compose and perfect their dances for performing in front of the group, sharing their experience with others for Part D (Share), through the demonstration, VICTA community and online gallery for the wider network.
Providing an opportunity to do something that previously seemed out of reach, participants grew in confidence while showing themselves that they can - and of course, having lots of fun at the same time.
Top tip – go for it!
The best advice I can give to any Arts Award adviser working with SEND groups is to just give it a go. Don’t be influenced by the perceptions of others, or even the perceptions they or you have. Try it – it might not go the way you hoped, but I guarantee you have made a difference to someone – the power of showing someone they can is enormous and may change someone’s life.
Photo by a young person at VICTA
Comments & Replies