United for those in Needs: Learn, Open, Care, Keep

What is it?

The project “United for those in Needs: Learn, Open, Care, Keep – the Museum Mediator as Diversity Integrator” (UNLOCK), financed through the Erasmus Plus Programme, Key Action, Vocational Education and Training, starts from the role of museums as veritable vectors in societal development, community catalysers, and their exemplary role in shaping individual and group consciousness. That is why, our final goal is to create the premises for improved museum experiences for persons exposed to various forms of exclusions, whatever the reasons of such attitude.

Why is it important? / How can it help the professionals of the cultural sector?

The project included 3 training courses of five days each (one in Lanciano, Italy, one in Berlin, one in Madrid) focusing on the training needs of cultural professionals so to be able to provide improved experiences to the persons suffering from various forms of exclusion.

Following the project, the project leader, ”Moldova” National Museum Complex of Iași, Romania, is among the few museums in Romania that allow blind and visually impaired persons to experience the museum through 3D moldings accompanied by the Braille descriptions, as well as the deaf and hard of hearing persons to have a different kind of experience in an exhibition where the main attraction is the sound produced by the mechanical museum instruments.

The result is that the devices are used by both impaired and non-impaired visitors, which proves once more the visitor’s need to touch the items, in a context where the most important rule is “do not touch.”

Project /organisation name

”United for those in Needs: Learn, Open, Care, Keep – the Museum Mediator as Diversity Integrator (UNLOCK)” Complexul Muzeal Național „Moldova” (”Moldova” National Museum Complex)

Where (country / region)

Romania, Iași

Type of institution

Museum

Permanent or temporary exhibition / project

European project - temporary

Date

01/10/2020 - 30/09/2022

Physical / digital

Physical and online

Public targeted

Blind and people with visual impairments
Deaf and people with hearing impairments

Device/ inclusive features

Three 3D moldings of 2D artworks (paintings) were created within the Art Museum that is part of ”Moldova” National Museum Complex of Iași, Romania. They are accompanied by Braille 3D printed descriptions of the respective paintings to facilitate the access of the visually impaired to the works of art.

Also, one experimental device was created within ”Ștefan Procopiu” Science and Technique Museum, that is part of ”Moldova” National Museum Complex of Iași, Romania, designed for the use of the people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The device transforms 9 melodies recorded and played back by mechanical music instruments (music boxes, orchestrions, symphonions etc.) into vibrations, that can be felt by placing the palm on the designated area.

Collaborations / partners

CPA di Giuseppina Bomba (Italy)
Espacio Rojo (Spain)
Ethniko Kentro Erevnas kai Diasosis Sholikou Ylikou EKEDISY (Greece)
Fundacion Uxio Novoneyra (Spain)
Insieme Per Camminare (Italy)
Österreichisches Museum für Volkskunde (Austria)
weltgewandt. Institut für interkulturelle politische Bildung e.V. (Germany)
Beacon Wave SRL D (Romania).

Funding

Financed through the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union

Replicability/adaptability

The project can be replicated for more works of art and for more recordings, respectively. One of the project results was a document named ”How to” focusing on how to create the 3D moldings starting from the works of art and how to transform music into vibrations.