You can't look, but you can touch!

RNC student Amy Griffin has successfully concluded her three-day exhibition, 'You can't look, but you can touch!'. An insightful sensory experience that challenged visitors to explore artefacts through touch while blindfolded.

Pictured: a pair of hands exploring a tactile pocket watch

The event, undertaken as part of Amy's Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), drew significant attention and praise. Visitors were guided through a carefully curated collection of items, experiencing them in a way that prioritised tactile exploration over visual observation.


Pictured: Student Elliot holds a metal nasal helmet which has a noseguard to protect the centre of the face 

Each artefact was accompanied by a description, available in Braille and through a QR code linking to a recording of Amy’s voice describing the object. This multi-sensory approach ensured that all visitors could fully engage with the exhibition.


Pictured: Student Alyssia reads the Braille description for the mail coif (chainmail headdress) on the table in front of her

‘It's gone really well,’ Amy said. ‘A lot of people have attended and the response from people putting on blindfolds and walking through the exhibition has been amazing. Visitors have been guided, which they might not have experienced before and touched things rather than look at them. I've enjoyed everyone's reactions. I didn't expect it to be as good as it has been.’

Amy's meticulous research underpinned the exhibition's success. She contacted numerous museums and institutions, including the National Gallery, the V&A, the Hepworth Gallery, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, a project at Leicester University, and the National Trust, to gather insights into accessibility. Surveys were conducted to understand different organisations' perspectives. The artefacts themselves were sourced from the Hereford Museum, from RNC, and through 3D printed contributions from friends and family.

‘I've always been frustrated when I've visited museums as everything is behind glass’, Amy explained. ‘I wanted to do something to give people the opportunity to be able to touch stuff, not just look at it behind glass.’

Amy was very grateful to everyone who contributed to the event:

‘Teachers Paul and Graham from the Media Department helped me record my audio guides, and student Aiden edited them, which I couldn't have done. Teacher Leanne also helped with the QR codes. My mum has also been amazing – she supported me through the whole thing. She stuck all the QR codes on the Braille cards, she read out what I needed to Braille, and she gave me some ideas which I built on.’

RNC’s Executive Principal Lucy Proctor, who attended the pop-up museum, said:

‘The exhibition was absolutely wonderful. It was so well thought out and there was such a range of different things to experience - some of them are really familiar objects but when you're experiencing them through touch instead it's just a completely different experience. You learn about the object in a completely different way. I think some of the replicas of the older artefacts, in particular the Mail Coif (chainmail headdress] and the helmet - the sheer weight of those - it's not something I could have imagined before. It's been brilliant and Amy has worked so hard on it and our volunteer Catherine was a wonderful guide.’

Catherine echoed the sentiments, praising the event's interactive nature, saying:

‘I've thoroughly enjoyed supporting the event and showing students and sighted people wearing blindfolds around and hearing people's reactions to the objects being placed in their hands. Amy has done a wonderful job of choosing such a range of different materials and objects. It's really kept people guessing.’

Catherine also spoke about her experience of volunteering at RNC:

‘I just feel it's such a friendly, vibrant and enthusiastic place and it's just a privilege to be able to come and join in. The students and staff are so friendly and there's always so much going on.’

Amy has provided a thoroughly engaging sensory experience which demonstrates that with a little thought, museums and galleries can be accessible to all.

For more pictures from the event click here.