Ten Italian museums recently inaugurated special exhibits for disabled art lovers on occasion of the International Day of the Disabled, which was celebrated last December 3.
Famous paintings, important monuments, sculptures, engravings, toys, nativity figurines and archeological artifacts are now flanked by interpretive exhibits and educational materials created especially for those with disabilities.
As part of an initiative of Italy’s Culture ministry, Un giorno all’anno tutto l’anno, the exhibits include three-dimensional models that can be handled, descriptions in Braille, audio CDs, and other visual materials, such as DVDs with subtitles, complete with simultaneous translation software, so the disabled can enjoy and learn about the most significant artworks in each museum.
The participating museums are Mus’A-Museo Sassari Arte in Sassari, Pinacoteca Nazionale in Cagliari, Museo Nazionale in L’Aquila, Complesso della Reggia a Caserta in Caserta, Museo di Palazzo Reale and the Museo Nazionale di San Martino in Naples, Museo Didattico della Scuola Medica Salernitana in Salerno, Galleria Nazionale di Palazzo Arnone in Cosenza, Castello di Copertino in Puglia, Museo Nazionale d’ArteMedievale e Moderna in Matera.
For more information, see www.beniculturali.it