The Carrollwood Cultural Center will increase accessibility for blind and low-vision patrons, by offering audio description for all future center-produced theatrical performances.
The center recently purchased a new assistive listening system, using funds from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Competitive Grant. The center also received grant funding through the AARP Community Challenge, to train personnel to provide live audio description services, according to a news release.
Audio description is a live narration of the visual elements of a performance, such as lights, costumes, actions, textures and scenery.
The new system will enable patrons who are hard of hearing to tune into a high-quality audio stream through the center’s wireless network. The patron then can access the frequency through an application on their cellphone, the release said.
The new assistive listening system is part of a larger programming initiative the center has planned for Blind Awareness Month in October.
Events will include Blind Visionaries, a live concert on Oct. 8 at 8 p.m., featuring Daniel Kelly compositions inspired by light photography created by the blind and visually impaired members of The Seeing with Photography Collective. Blind Visionaries also will host a light painting workshop on the same day, at 3 p.m.
Other planned activities include a touch-sensitive gallery exhibition, “Beyond Sight,” from Sept. 28 through Oct. 29, and a free lecture called “The Art of (Braille)” on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.
For more information, visit CarrollwoodCenter.org.
Published September 21, 2022
