Curated Access

The Joslyn Art Museum, formally known as the Joslyn Memorial, was first opened in 1931 and resides in Omaha, Nebraska. An artistic and cultural mecca of the Midwest United States, The Joslyn stands now as the largest art museum in Nebraska housing over 12,000 curated objects representing culture and history from around the world.  

True to its original intention, in 2013 the museum returned to free admission from its roots dedicated to equal access for all. The Joslyn and its creative team remain dedicated to this commitment to access and have expanded these efforts in new creative ways.  

Their most recent grand opening late summer of 2024 included not only this free admission, but specialty curated inclusion efforts for all levels on the ability spectrum. One of our favorite new additions is their ASL interpreted digital walkthrough. 

This new digital walkthrough includes multiple collections within The Joslyn including 12 pieces with descriptions digitally featured with voicing, captions, and ASL interpreting. Below are examples of this inclusive digital walkthrough with post-production interpreting and captioning provided by Deaf Services Unlimited: 

Representatives from The Joslyn team are already thrilled with community reactions and celebration towards these new inclusion initiatives. Energetic towards this level of inclusion, Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities and advocacy organizations around the Midwest are already planning their trips to The Joslyn to journey this experience together.  

The Joslyn and their team embody the inclusive spirit in their time and energy dedicated to not only curating expressive, meaningful collections, but also means to enjoy these collections for all their visitors.  

To learn more about their access efforts visit www.joslyn.org 

Click the link below to learn more about our post-production services to make your experience an experience for all.  

Post-Production Services

Sources: www.joslyn.org/ 

Q&A

1. What is curated access for museums and cultural institutions?
   Curated access provides fully accessible digital or in-person experiences for Deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors, often including ASL interpretation, captions, and voice narration.
2. How does ASL interpretation work for museum tours or art collections?
   ASL interpreters can guide visitors virtually or in person, signing descriptions of artworks or exhibits alongside captions and voice narration for a complete accessible experience.
3. Why is accessibility important in museums and cultural spaces?
   Accessibility ensures everyone can engage with exhibits, promotes inclusion, and allows institutions to reach a wider audience of diverse visitors.
4. Who can benefit from accessible museum programs?
   Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, advocacy groups, educators, and families all benefit from accessible tours, digital content, and inclusive programming.
5. How can a museum create accessible experiences for Deaf visitors?
   Museums can collaborate with accessibility service providers, integrate ASL interpretation, provide captions and audio narration, and seek feedback from the Deaf community to improve programming.