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The paper analyses the initiatives for people with visual impairments realized by the Rakursi Gallery in Sofia, Bulgaria as one of the leading institutions in the country that offers educational programmes for this public [1]. The research methodology includes Case Study, interview with curator in the gallery, analysis of the website, publications and other information materials.
Many museums worldwide, such as Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Great Britain, have developed special tours, events or workshops for visitors with disabilities. However, in Bulgaria there are only few examples of such initiatives.
In this context Rakursi Gallery has achieved remarkable results within the exhibitions “Touch the Treasure” (April 2016), “A Look at Modern Art” (June 2016) and "Feel the Art (Access to the visual arts of students with visual impairments)" (March 2019), organized for students from the School of visually impaired children “Louis Braille” in Sofia. As part of the exhibitions the staff of the gallery held workshops during which the children were able not only to learn more about the main theme of the event but to become artists themselves.
Moreover, the founders of Rakursi share their experience with this type of public with other museum workers during specialized training sessions.
The activities of the Rakursi Gallery for children with visual impairments could stand out as a good Bulgarian practice for educational programmes. It will be used as an example in the training process of Bachelor students at the academic courses Access to Information for People with Special Needs [2] and Accessible Tourism [3] at University of Library Studies and Information Technologies. Thus the students would develop a better understanding of the educational mission of modern galleries and museums as “cultural institutions for all”.

Keywords: Rakursi Gallery, people with visual impairments, educational programs, academic education, projects, Bulgaria  

References:

1. Rakursi Gallery,
   https://rakursi.com/en/homepage/
2. Todorova, T., S. Eftimova. “Access to Information for People with Special Needs: Experience from Academic Course”, New Perspectives in Science and Education, 8th ed., 21-22 March 2019, Florence, Italy. Bologna, Filodiritto International, 2019, pp. 321-325.
3. Todorova, T. “Accessible Tourism: Experience from Academic Course”, New Perspectives in Science and Education, 9th ed., 19-20 March 2020, Florence, Italy. Bologna, Filodiritto International, 2020, p. 344-349.