Gallery Touch Tour

Recently Gordon Road Service took a group of people with visual impairment to an organised Touch Tour and workshop at the National Portrait Gallery (NPG). Andrew Lidstone recounts the experience.

The visit was led by Angela Wright, an Artist and Art Educator. Angela kindly set up and led the workshop whilst maintaining a very busy schedule. It was much appreciated by all. She warmly welcomed us to the Gallery and began by introducing a painting by the artist Maggie Hambling and a painting by Thomas Stearn of T.S Eliot.

Angela then led us on a Touch Tour. This was an opportunity for the group, wearing cotton gloves, to actually handle some of the sculptural exhibits. We were able to feel a bust of the novellist Virginia Woolf. Who’s afraid??!! We also handled a bust of the artist Augustus John and one of Elizabeth Frink.

Following the Touch Tour, we assembled in the Gallery's artists studio for a mask making workshop. This was thoroughly enjoyed by all as we had the extensive resources of the Gallery at our disposal. One of the group gave her mask a femine touch and another worked intensly on his with assistance from another NGPG Art Educator.  The entire day was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

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