According to the World Health Organisation, in their World Report on Disability – about 15% of the world’s population live with some form of disability, of whom 2-4% experienced significant difficulties in functioning. While museums world-over have already taken great strides in the area of accessibility, cultural spaces in India are still catching up.
A collaboration between Mphasis (an IT solutions provider specialising in cloud and cognitive services) and MAP is bringing to Bengaluru a barrier-free space so that museums too can be inclusive for people from all walks of life. Mphasis is offering an INR 10 crore grant to the upcoming museum.
Being ready to welcome visitors with a disability is not enough – MAP (the Museum of Photography & Art) aims to break down barriers in the perception of who museums are for. Over the next few months, a primary task will be focusing on building relationships between MAP and NGOs and groups who work with People with Disabilities (PwDs), to ensure that they are aware of these opportunities and they can contribute to the shaping of programs and services to cater to their needs.
MAP’s flagship building—scheduled to open to the public in 2020—will be a 42,000 square foot purpose-built facility in the heart of Bangalore on Kasturba Road. Walkable from the Cubbon Park, MG Road, and Vidhana Soudha metro stations, the Museum will be situated across the road from the Government Museum and the Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, creating a unique ‘museum hub’ in the city.
Designed with a focus on clean international design and functionality, the museum will be spread across five floors and include multiple galleries, an auditorium, a research library, a restoration lab, classrooms, a museum store and cafe.
The 10-crore Mphasis grant will be given to MAP over a period of five years to enable the museum to take a 360-degree approach to accessibility right from the outset. This will include the physical space of the museum, structural works as well as interiors, under the expert guidance of the Diversity and Equal Opportunity Centre (DEOC) who are benchmarking the MAP building and services against some of the most established museums in the world.
With the help of this grant, MAP will be able to also offer art education workshops specifically tailored for PwDs and inclusive exhibitions in their galleries, as well as inclusive auditorium programs such as talks and conferences. Technology will be a core component of MAP and all equipment will be procured with access in mind, including the website.
Thanks to Mphasis’ support, a career in the arts will be open to PwDs too. The Inclusion Officer, as well as being the central point of contact for all access-related matters, will be implementing policies and practices which will allow for fair recruitment and retention of staff with disabilities.
While the museum’s physical space is being built, MAP is carrying out its mission by actively reaching out to the community through a variety of programmes and projects, including loans, workshopsand lectures. MAP also intends to expand beyond the four walls of a traditional museum space by actively reaching out to the community through a variety of educational programs, with a special focus on collaborations with schools in the area.
