Where accessibility meets art: “Autonomy for Art”

Autonomy for Art is a cultural accessibility project developed at GAM – Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Torino – with the support of Autonomy, the Stellantis programme dedicated to mobility solutions for people with disabilities.

The project was curated by Forword, an association specialising in the production of accessible audiovisual content, together with GAM’s Education Department. It is built around a clear idea: cultural accessibility is not simply about removing physical barriers. It means designing the museum experience through a variety of languages and formats, so that everyone can connect with art according to their own sensitivities and ways of perceiving the world.

The project comes to life in GAM’s Deposito Vivente, or “Living Storage”: a dynamic space curated by Chiara Bertola and Fabio Cafagna, where paintings, sculptures and drawings are displayed as they would be in an actual museum storage facility, free from the traditional hierarchies of a conventional exhibition.

Paintings fill the walls or remain inside their conservation crates, sculptures are arranged on metal shelving, and the accompanying captions are collected separately for visitors to consult. This distinctive approach brings new vitality to the artworks and encourages the public to see them from a fresh perspective.

The aim of Autonomy for Art is to open up new ways of engaging with this artistic heritage and offer everyone a more independent and participatory museum experience.
The initiative brings together physical and digital solutions designed in accordance with international museum accessibility principles. Every visitor brings different knowledge, sensitivities and needs to their encounter with art. Providing multiple ways to explore the collection therefore enables each person to shape their own journey of discovery, both inside and beyond the museum.

The project includes:

• Multisensory interpretation panels dedicated to selected works and artists, including Francesco Hayez, Felice Casorati and Mario Merz. Located alongside the artworks, they can be held and explored through raised tactile elements, visual information and narrative content.
• Accessible audio and video content, featuring audio descriptions and subtitles in Italian and English, as well as interpretation in Italian Sign Language (LIS) and International Sign (IS). These resources offer new ways of understanding the artworks, including for visitors who cannot rely solely on sight.
• Visual video stories exploring GAM’s spaces, designed to help visitors familiarise themselves with the museum and find their way around. These resources also feature voice-over, audio descriptions and subtitles in Italian and English, alongside interpretation in LIS and IS.
• Tactile reproductions available online, which can be downloaded and printed in relief using microcapsule paper, allowing people to explore the artworks and access the accompanying digital content remotely.

The content is the result of a collaborative effort involving Forword, GAM’s Education Department, Tactile Vision Onlus, the Turin Institute for the Deaf and UICI Torino.

With Autonomy for Art, GAM reinforces its commitment to being a museum that welcomes and reflects the diversity of its audiences. The project demonstrates that mobility and accessibility are not only about moving freely through physical spaces, but also about being able to participate fully in cultural life.

Because autonomy means freedom to experience – for everyone.