Art Center docents trained to give sculpture park tours to the blind

Staff from the Iowa Department for the Blind provided education on blindness and the blind experience to about 40 docents and Des Moines Art Center staff in order to begin tours for the blind at the Pappajohn Sculpture Park in downtown Des Moines.

After a morning presentation at the Department to allow the docents to ask questions about blindness and to provide information about how blind people approach and appreciate art, IDB staff Sandy Tigges, Dave Hauge, Cynthia Qloud and Tai Blas led small groups around the sculpture park offering pointers on how to best present the works to blind and visually impaired people.

The docents and the trainers were given gloves to wear so they could touch the 25 sculptures in the park. Future organized tours for the blind will include gloves that can be worn so the scultpures can be touched to gain a better understanding of the art.

Tours for the blind and visually impaired can be arranged through the Des Moines Art Center by calling Jennifer Cooley, museum education manager, at jcooley@desmoinesartcenter.org or 515.271.0328. Three or more weeks advanced notice is needed to schedule guided tours. The Department also created Brailled copies of the sculpture park visitor guide, which is available upon request.

See more photos of the tour on Facebook.

See a television feature from KCCI-TV in Des Moines on the tours offered.