Bantock scoops national award
Released: 17 July 2007
A Wolverhampton museum has won a national award in recognition of its services for deaf visitors. Bantock House Museum received a Jodi award for excellence in accessible technology.
The Finchfield Road attraction uses innovative ideas to cater for the needs of deaf visitors. These have included making video recordings about the museum in sign language which people can watch on hand-held devices as they go round.
The award was presented to staff from Bantock at a ceremony held at the British Museum in London. The Jodi Awards are run each year by the Museums Libraries and Archives Council. They are presented to cultural attractions that demonstrate excellence in using technology to improve access for disabled people.
Bantock staff had the idea of producing video guides so that deaf people could visit the museum independently without relying on a pre-booked British Sign Language tour. The videos were produced by Wolverhampton company Zebra Uno which is run by two local deaf people.
Bantock also provides visitor information on its website in British Sign Language.
Councillor John Reynolds, city council cabinet member for leisure and culture, said: “We are bowled over by the award. It is a wonderful recognition which fuels our commitment to deaf people who are among the most excluded in society.
“The judges were impressed that as well as these video guides we also provide visitor information on the website in British Sign Language and regular signed events and tours and are planning a deaf history exhibition which will include videos of deaf people signing their experience of living and working in Wolverhampton.”
Chris Batt, chief executive of the Museums Libraries and Archives Council, said: “The winners of this year’s Jodi Awards all demonstrate a huge enthusiasm for challenging boundaries. They demonstrate the power of technology to transform access to collections for disabled people. They are at the cutting edge of tomorrow’s good practice and show that the use of technology need not create new barriers. The winners all share a commitment to involving and designing services with users.”
A number of events for deaf people have been organised over the coming weeks in Wolverhampton.
• July 28 – BSL interpreters will be present at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery Collections Resource Open Day from 12pm to 3pm.
• August 4 – BSL interpreters will be at the Hidden Treasures Open Day at Bantock House Museum. Hidden Treasures is a contemporary view of Victorian objects. From 12pm to 4pm.
• August 18 – BSL Welcome Day at Bantock House Museum from 12pm to 3pm where there will be all sorts of activities including craft workshops, football, a circus skills workshop, treasure hunt and badge making.
The Jodi Awards are named in memory of Jodi Mattes (1973-2001) who worked for the British Museum and later at the Royal National Institute of Blind People. The awards honour Jodi’s effort to ensure the museum’s website was as accessible as possible.
Other winners this year included the National Archives, Doncaster Library and Information Services and Colchester Castle.
Issued by the press office.