Normally in many museums and galleries especially around sculptures there are notices up to say ‘do not touch’ which can make the experience a bit tricky for blind and partially sighted people who might like to explore the sculptures through touch. Well the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens in Hertfordshire have an exhibition titled ‘This Living Hand’ where visitors are definitely invited to touch some of Henry Moore’s work that is on display.

RNIB Connect Radio's Toby Davey caught up with Sylvia Cox Curator of Exhibitions at the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens and Paula Suchy a recent visually impaired visitor to This Living Hand’ exhibition to find out more about this very accessible exhibition.

Sylvia began by giving Toby some background to Henry Moore's work, the exhibition 'This Living Hand' and describing some of Henry Moore's work that is on display. 

Paula who recently visited 'This Living Hand' tells Toby what it was like for her as a visually impaired person getting her hands on some of Henry Moore's work through the exhibition 'This Living Hand', and also the help and support she received from staff at the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens during her visit which certainly brought the work to life for her.  

Paula and Sylvia also talked about accessibility in museums and galleries for visually impaired people with Paula recalling a couple of visits to other museums and Sylvia explaining more about the services they offer for visually impaired visitors. 

The exhibition This Living Hand is currently on until 31 October 2021 and the gardens at the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens continue to be open throughout the autumn and winter.

For more details about the exhibition  'This Living Hand' and the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens do visit - https://www.henry-moore.org/

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