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Money awarded to help Armagh County Museum make improvements for visually impaired

£8,800 will see 'new system replace the existing labels with a modern museum system'

Displays at Armagh County Museum are to be made more accessible for people with a visual impairment.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has been successful is securing £8,800 towards the changes.

Details of the letter of offer were provided at a meeting of the economic development and regeneration committee this week.

In 2017/2018 the Department for Communities undertook a pilot ‘Access and Inclusion’ project with Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Public Health Agency.

It was targeted at improving access to, and therefore participation in, arts and cultural activities by people with disabilities across the council area.

Accessibility audits identified the need for a range of improvements which included lifts in buildings; loop systems; adjustments to internal/external doors; power assisted doors; portable ramps; appropriate signage; flooring adjustments; and changing places facilities.

The pilot programme was well received across the sector and helped to address some of the deficiencies at arts and cultural venues of greatest need.

The Department secured a budget for the 2018/19 financial year to develop a new programme rolled out across all 11 councils to improve access and inclusion in cultural venues.

Armagh County Museum has been successful in securing funding of £8,800.

The money will be used to replace labels in the display cases throughout the museum.

A report to committee explains: “The current labels contain small text that is difficult to read and has been a constant criticism from visually impaired visitors.

“The new system will replace the existing labels with a modern museum system.

“By replacing the labels, it will increase accessibility to the museum’s collection for our visually impaired audience.”

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