"Museum Experiences at Home" - Delving into Museums Remotely from Comfort of Your Living Room
Art Tours by Telephone: Cologne's Innovative Approach
Assemble at the Museum of Applied Arts in Cologne (MAKK) - today's adventurers are gathered, eagerly awaiting Corinna Fehrenbach, their guide. However, our art aficionado standss apart at the entrance, donning her headset, dialing a number, and beginning an unconventional journey. In the era of social distancing, Corinna is conducting a telephone tour - a concept born from the "Call for Culture" project.
The guided tour takes us through a design exhibition, with artworks by Édouard Manet, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, and Berlinde De Bruyckere featured. The project's roots originate during the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2021, spearheaded by the Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired, several Hamburg museums, and an inclusion office. The vision? Culture should come to the people, not the other way around - and thus, via telephone calls.
The original on-site tours for the visually impaired have been expanded to accommodate people with various challenges - mobility restrictions, financial constraints, or trepidation in large groups. More than 100 German museums are now participating, with the Hamburg Kunsthalle recently joining the fray on June 15th. The audio tours are free, funded by Aktion Mensch and the Hamburg Cultural Authority - approximately 105,000 euros per year, covering about half of the costs.
The audio tours have proven to be a remarkable hit, particularly for people like Gertrud Feld from Saarbrücken, who has been blind since birth. She has been guided through numerous museums, finding delight in experiencing culture from her home. The guided tours are meticulously crafted, with guides like Corinna Fehrenbach focusing on shapes, colors, textures, and comparisons with everyday objects. They also share insights about the exhibition's lighting and aroma.
The telephone tours demand intense focus and precision from the guides, as they lack visual cues to gauge the listeners' reactions. Nevertheless, Corinna adapts, immersing herself in the storytelling, dramatically gesturing - sometimes even loud enough to unsettle museum visitors. Regardless, she effectively guides callers through the museum, providing a captivating, educational experience.
In essence, the "Call for Culture" project is a remarkable effort to democratize access to museums and art, transcending physical boundaries and making culture an inclusive experience for all.
In the adjusted scope of the "Call for Culture" project, sustainable living is encouraged as people with various challenges, including mobility restrictions and financial constraints, can now partake in the cultural experience from their homes, thanks to the free telephone tours. The project, which also focuses on home-and-garden design through exhibitions, advocates for a lifestyle that fosters accessibility and inclusivity in society.
