| On November 4 and 5, 2016, the Lehigh Valley Arts Council, in cooperation with Muhlenberg College Theatre & Dance, will present a two-day workshop, “Audio Description for the Theatre,” from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. As an introduction to the training, attendees will also experience an audio-described performance of The Pirates of Penzance on Thursday evening, November 3rd at 8:00 p.m. in the Baker Center.
Audio Description assists patrons who are blind/low-vision to access the visual elements of stage productions through narration provided by trained describers. Patrons use headsets to hear the audio description. The Arts Council has contracted Mimi Smith, former Executive Director of VSA Pennsylvania, and her husband Steve Smith to provide the training. Both of them have been describers for more than two decades and were cofounders of Amaryllis Theatre Co., a professional Philadelphia theatre that regularly hired theatre artists with disabilities. They will introduce the class to the foundational skills—Observation, Analysis, and Communication—necessary to audio describe stage productions. $35 for members; $50 for nonmembers. For additional information on location and registration, visit LVArtsCouncil.org. |
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Tag Archives: Mimi Smith
Audio Description Training For The Visual Arts
| On April 24 & 25, 2015, the Lehigh Valley Arts Council, in partnership with the Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley, will present atwo-day workshop, ”Audio Description for the Visual Arts,” from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Allentown Art Museum. Audio description assists patrons who are blind or low-visionto access the visual elements of two- and three-dimensional works of art in the gallery or museum setting through narration provided by traineddescribers. More and more, museums in larger cities are offering to people with disabilitiesaccommodations that include audio description and staff training to help visitors with vision loss feel welcome.The Arts Council has contracted Mimi Smith, Executive Director of VSA Pennsylvania to provide the training over the course of two days. She has been a describer for more than two decades and is a founder of Amaryllis Theatre, a professional Philadelphia theatre that regularly includes artists with disabilities. She will introduce the class to the foundational skills—Observe, Analyze and Communicate— necessary to audio describe artwork. Additionally Street Thoma, Accessible Programs Manager at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, will attend and discuss the evolution of the museum’s program.
Typically, this workshop would cost $590. Thanks to the underwriting support of an anonymous donor, the Arts Council is able to offer it at a very reasonable price: $50 per person. Please purchase your tickets at LVArtsBoxOffice.org. |
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