UK wide award celebrates exemplary accessibility at the National Galleries of Scotland

The National Galleries of Scotland celebrates being shortlisted for the Visitor Accessibility Award 2025 at the prestigious Museum + Heritage Awards.

Article Source: The National Galleries of Scotland
Last Updated: 27 March 2025 13:31

Home to Scotland’s world-class collection of art, the National Galleries of Scotland was shortlisted for the incredible strides made in integrating accessibility into every aspect of the visitor experience across all three of its galleries in the heart of Edinburgh. From visually impaired, dementia friendly, British Sign Language and sensory friendly activities and resources, the National Galleries of Scotland has a mission to make art work for everyone and ensure anyone can access and discover Scotland’s incredible national collection.

The global Museum + Heritage Awards recognise the very best in the world of museums, galleries, and cultural and heritage visitor attractions. The National Galleries of Scotland is the only Scottish organisation to be shortlisted for the Accessibility Award, with the winners to be announced at a glittering live ceremony on Thursday 15 May. 2025 marks the first year of the Accessibility Award, shining a light on exemplary initiatives which remove barriers and increase engagement for people with disabilities. The National Galleries of Scotland’s People Team have also been shortlisted for Team of the Year, celebrating their work on the organisations people strategy. Their focus has been on inclusion, wellbeing, and the delivery of an engaging colleague experience. One result of this was the team working with many stakeholders and colleagues to deliver a new shorter working week for everyone in the organisation.

The National Galleries of Scotland was nominated for the Accessibility Award for improvements achieved during the opening of the Scottish galleries at the National, which opened in September 2023. Leaving a lasting legacy, the new spaces transformed the visitor experience and provide more visitor-centred galleries for the disabled community, as well as the launch of new online activities. The mission was to ensure this extended across all galleries and everyone could easily discover Scotland’s national collection without barriers. Whether exploring treasures such as Botticelli, Titian and the largest collection of Scottish art in the world at the National, discovering the very best of modern and contemporary art at Modern or coming to face to face with famous faces and pop culture icons at the Portrait.

Whilst the National Galleries of Scotland have run a dedicated accessible programme for over 20 years, the opening of the Scottish galleries was an opportunity to provide even greater flexibility and choice for how and when disabled visitors interact with the collection. With major accessibility improvements made, this transformed the experience for disabled visitors at the National. The changes made during the opening of the Scottish galleries included an accessible path in Princes Street Gardens, new lifts, a partial Changing Places toilet, accessible entrances, inclusive signage, and self-led collection-based resources. This has since expanded across all three of the National Galleries of Scotland’s sites.

Across 2023 and 2024, the National Galleries of Scotland worked with consultants and audiences with lived experience on audio-described highlight tours across the galleries for blind and partially sighted visitors. Which have now been accessed by over 12,000 people. Addressing a key accessibility barrier, new pre-visit online information was created including audio-described welcome and orientation tracks , BSL video-guides, and sensory-friendly films on the buildings, facilities and artworks, to make visiting the gallery easier and less stressful.

Inclusive resources were created at National Galleries Scotland: National, home to the Scottish galleries, including in-gallery object handling, sensory bags with tactile objects and trails that centre inclusion and diversity. Accessibility boxes containing sensory maps, ear defenders, disposable earplugs, magnifying glasses were all made available at all gallery information points. Two dementia-friendly art films and the first in a deaf led film series ‘Exploring Deaf History’ were also created to allow people to discover the collection online.

Over the last year this has resulted in 4,374 people attending the regular programme (Visually Impaired Programme, dementia-friendly, BSL tours, Relaxed sessions afternoons, sensory-friendly sessions) delivered by a creative team that includes deaf and disabled people. 1,433 people also enjoyed free supported or self-led group visits. With the programme extending online, access groups including Deafblind Scotland, Deaf Action and Guide Dogs Scotland make regular use of digital and in-gallery resource.

Siobhan McConnachie, Head of Learning and Engagement, National Galleries of Scotland, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be recognised by the Museum + Heritage Awards for all of our efforts to make the galleries accessible to all. We believe art is for everyone and that museums and galleries are a resource which should be available for visitors to use and experience in their own way. Ensuring everyone has access to Scotland’s wonderful art collection only enhances our cultural landscape. Our focus has been on supporting independent visits by disabled visitors, offering greater flexibility and choice for how and when disabled visitors interact with their collection. We hope that our online and in gallery resources help everyone to feel welcome and at ease in all of our galleries.”

The development of all programmes and resources were underpinned and informed by direct relationships with disabled audiences and partnerships with expert organisations. Working alongside Alzheimer Scotland, RNIB Scotland, Vocaleyes, Deaf Action, Door in the Wall Arts Access, PAMIS (Promoting More Inclusive Society), individual consultants, creatives and experts with lived experience.

Image Credit: Simon Hird

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