To enjoin deaf and hard-to-hear students in celebrating History Month, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) with the Rotary Club of San Juan del Monte, Philippine National School for the Blind (PNSB), Philippine School for the Deaf (PSD), Maynilad Water Services Inc., and the Maynilad Water Academy (MWA), brought the “TAV (Touch the Artist’s Vision) 2.0 Museum Unboxed Travels” exhibit at the Philippine National School of the Blind, in Pasay City on Aug. 6, 2024.
The exhibit featured several pieces from different museums curated and catered to learners with disabilities. With the theme ‘Breaking Barriers: A Multi-Sensory Exploration of Arts and History for All,’ this one-of-a-kind exhibit bridges the gap that individuals with disabilities often encounter in visiting museums and galleries.
“Today we celebrate accessibility and inclusivity, particularly our deaf and hard of hearing community. With the traveling exhibit, we are working to create a world where art knows no boundaries. This initiative provides an exciting opportunity for everyone to engage the significant pieces from various museums through touch, braille, and voice-over, allowing students to experience art uniquely. Our gathering here not only enriches this event but also serves a powerful reminder of our task of creating an environment where everyone feels welcomed and valued,” said Rotary Club of San Juan del Monte President Candy Crisologo Park in her message during the opening program.
“The NHCP believes that teaching and awareness-building on history does not only take place inside classrooms, we can also learn historical lessons from visits to museums that are also regarded as educational institutions. In the past years, our commission has intentionally made our museums inclusive to our disadvantaged brothers and sisters by having artifacts that can be touched, and audio-visual presentations (AVPs) with Filipino sign language.
In 2023, with the help of Rotary San Juan del Monte and Touch the Artist Vision, we produced a traveling exhibit titled, “TAV Goes to School”, which was mounted in the Philippine National School for the Blind to widen their student’s knowledge on history. This year, in celebration of History Month and in cooperation with the Philippine School for Deaf, we have widened the exhibit's scope to include the deaf and hard-to-hear students,” said NHCP Executive Director Carmina R. Arevalo.
TAV is a non-government group that has long advocated for the rights and welfare of blind individuals, providing them with access to art forms in museums. The group actively encourages museums and galleries to transform their displays into tactile and 3D models, allowing those who are blind or have low vision to appreciate artworks through the sense of touch.
Also present in the program were PSD Principal Lovelynn Jane S. Bacera with Maynilad Water Services Inc. Head of Community Zyrille Cartel, and MWA Specialist Ciara Fabroa, who conducted lectures on water sanitation and a water treatment demonstration.
The two-day traveling exhibit concluded on Aug. 7.
Photos by Sonny Espiritu