Concealed/Reveal: Disabled, D/deaf and neurodivergent artists driving creativity

Throughout galleries and museums, disabled, D/deaf and neurodiverse experiences have been concealed. This new exhibition at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery exposes these hidden stories and challenges preconceptions.

Featuring artists such as Henri Matisse and local stories like performer Patrick Cotter O’Brien, it highlights how disability can be a creative force and questions why the experiences of disabled people are socially stigmatised.

Concealed/Reveal has been curated by Curatorial Fellow, Jo Barlow, and Curatorial Fellowship Assistant Freya Purcell. It has been produced with Curating for Change, who, working with over 20 museums, have provided opportunities for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people seeking a curatorial career.

Curating for Change is delivered by Screen South through its Accentuate Programme and is funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund.

Accessible features

British Sign Language (BSL) versions of the introduction to each section are available via QR and Navilens codes on the text panels.  

All of the text in the gallery is in large print. You can also download the large print guide (PDF 2.1MB) for the exhibition to use on your device or to print out.​

You can listen to an audio described tour using handsets found throughout the exhibition. For descriptions of individual objects, you can scan QR or Navilens codes next to the objects.

You can also listen to the audio introduction for the display in advance of your visit Here:  

 

Using the codes

To use Navilens you must first download the NavilensGO app for Android or Apple, or search NavilensGo. Once the app is installed, open it, point the camera towards the exhibition and content will pop up. To use QR codes, open your phone’s camera, scan the code and click the link that appears. 

Hang height

Artworks and interpretation are located at a lower height and interpretation panels can be picked up to enable easier reading.

Lighting

Light levels in the exhibition are low to protect works on paper from damaging light exposure but torches are available throughout the exhibition should you need more light to view the pictures in more detail.

Tactile objects and interactives

Tactile objects and interactives are present throughout the display.