Exhibition: Pyskowice – The Town. Digital PDF publication for all audiences (and in ETR) at Municipal Centre for Culture and Art in Pyskowice, Poland

The permanent exhibition ‘Pyskowice City’ at the MOKiS Exhibition Centre in Pyskowice presents the rich history of the city’s post-war development and the importance of the Pyskowice railway junction in the years 1945 – 2005. The exhibition was created on the basis of unique archival materials, documents, photographs and private memorabilia, obtained thanks to cooperation with residents and local institutions.

Under the slogan ‘What they were and what they could have been – the town, the station, history’, the exhibition thoroughly documents the reconstruction of the market square, the urban development of the town and the construction of large housing estates. A special section is devoted to the history of the ‘Pyskowice Miasto’ railway station and the ambitious project to build the ‘Silesian Metro’.

The exhibition includes, among other things, archival photographs from the post-war expansion of the city, documentation of urban plans from the 1960s and 1970s, original information boards and platform signs, clocks and railway equipment from the former station, railway employee uniforms, local boards and railway infrastructure markings. The exhibition is complemented by a miniature sculpture by Stanisław Hochuła, whose history was discovered thanks to the efforts of Julia and Jarosław Słomski.

The project ‘Pyskowice Station • GOP Agglomeration and Museum Railway’, created in 2015, is the largest publicly available database on the history of Pyskowice, the local railway junction and the development of agglomeration and museum railways in Upper Silesia.

The aim of the project was to prepare an online PDF publication that would enable people with different needs – including those with learning difficulties, visual impairments or mobility limitations – to explore the exhibition independently. The publication was also intended to complement the visitor experience for those using the audio recordings.

• increasing the accessibility of the exhibition to a wide audience
• supporting the idea of inclusiveness through accessible digital forms
• enabling interactive reception of content using photos, text and audio elements
• popularising local history and railway heritage in a form that is friendly and accessible to people with different needs

The PDF publication was developed by the ARTeria Foundation team in close cooperation with MOKIS and Stacja Pyskowice employees, who provided all the necessary information, materials, etc., and participated in the editing process. A special photo session was prepared and conducted for the purposes of preparing the PDF.

The ARTeria Foundation team includes people specialising in, among other things, designing exhibitions and experiences related to art or historical exhibitions, graphic design, composing and arranging music, including the selection of background music, as well as IT specialists, including those specialising in the preparation of publications in e-pub and other formats.

ARTeria has extensive experience in:

• preparing educational materials
• creating accessible digital materials
• ensuring the integration of various digital formats and knowledge of the principles of inclusivity

The partners were able to ensure the professional integration of visual material with digital tools, while maintaining the principles of accessibility and readability of content.

The PDF publication was prepared as a digital version of the most important points of the exhibition, divided into sections corresponding to individual display cases and objects. It contains photographs, urban plans, descriptions of exhibits and links to selected fragments of the audio narrative from the audio guide (a combination of several tools to ensure the best possible experience for visitors). The document can be viewed on computers, tablets and PDF readers.

• narrative in simple, understandable language – also by use of Easy-To-Read (ETR) language
• short paragraphs and illustrations to facilitate content reception
• interactive audio buttons to listen to excerpts from recordings
• visual elements adapted for people with visual impairments (high contrast, legible typography)

• publication in PDF format optimised for accessibility (legible page layout, zoomable text, alternative descriptions for images)
• integration of audio narration fragments
• user-friendly interface enabling easy navigation between sections

The PDF is based on existing exhibition materials and archival documents, as well as on the audio guide script, which was prepared as the first tool to ensure an inclusive experience when visiting the exhibition.

• adapting content to accessibility requirements and PDF format
• synchronising text and illustrations with audio recordings
• simplifying descriptions for better reception by people with learning difficulties (using ETR language principles)

• division of content into short chapters corresponding to individual display cases
• integration of audio clips with interactive buttons
• use of legible typography and large illustrations
• user testing with people with different educational and sensory needs

Testers appreciated the ease of use of the PDF, its legibility and simple navigation, and the ability to listen to audio clips. People with learning difficulties emphasised that the format allows them to independently assimilate information and understand the history of the city. The tool is available in three languages: Polish, English, and German.

The PDF publication increases the accessibility of the exhibition and is a valuable addition to traditional sightseeing. Cultural institutions are encouraged to create digital, accessible educational materials, especially for people with different sensory and cognitive needs. Overly complicated layouts and excessively long blocks of text should be avoided.

The use of PDF files enriched with audio elements and materials prepared in the ETR (Easy-to-Read) standard can significantly increase the inclusiveness of visiting an exhibition. PDF documents with audio recordings support people who have difficulty reading, are visually impaired or prefer to receive content aurally. Thanks to audio narration, visitors can focus on the visual perception of the exhibition while receiving clear and accessible explanations. This type of solution can also be a support for people with cognitive disabilities who use a multisensory way of learning.

ETR materials, characterised by simple language, a clear layout, pictograms and larger fonts, make it easier for people with cognitive difficulties, neuroatypical individuals, seniors and visitors with a lower level of language proficiency to understand the information provided. This makes the exhibition content more accessible and user-friendly without losing any of its substantive value.

The combination of PDFs with audio and ETR versions allows for the creation of tour routes tailored to a variety of needs. Materials prepared in this way increase the independence of the audience, minimise communication barriers and strengthen the sense of social inclusion. As a result, the exhibition becomes a space where everyone, regardless of their abilities, can fully and comfortably participate in the reception of culture.

The project has shown that PDF publications can promote the inclusiveness of exhibitions by enabling diverse groups of visitors to access educational content independently and comfortably.