Audio tour helps visually impaired enjoy art exhibit

A special audio tour will allow people with low vision or visual impairment to experience the 28th Monmouth County Arts Council (MCAC) Juried Art Show on exhibit at the Monmouth Museum.

Thanks to a donation from the Community Foundation of Monmouth County, The New Jersey Blind Citizen Association, in collaboration with MCAC, has created and donated an audio description of the MCAC 28th Annual Juried Art Show & Sale which will run through March 4.

Providing the technology to record and edit the audio tour, Tom Brennan of Brookdale Public Radio, 90.5 The Night, was instrumental in MCAC's initiative to enable people with sight loss or impairments to enjoy the art exhibit.

The audio description, which runs approximately 18 minutes, relays information on the show, juror and artists, as well as the visual appeal of the artwork.

Narrated by Sue Ferraro, an art teacher at Camp Happiness, the audio tour describes not only the visual aspects of the work, but also its emotional context.

In addition, several sculptors have granted permission to allow visually impaired visitors to touch their artwork.

Listening devices are available at the Monmouth Museum or art enthusiasts can audio tour the exhibit online at MCAC's Web site, www.monmouthartscouncil.org/jas.php, or download the audio description to their MP3 player.

The Monmouth Museum, located at 765 Newman Springs Rd. in Lincroft, is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 1-5 p.m. Admission is $6 per person; free for museum members and children under 2. For more information about the Juried Art Show visit www.monmouthartscouncil.org or call (732) 212-1890.