National Lottery Grants for Heritage – £3,000 to £10,000
A partnership with the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) and Scottish Prison Service, this work culminated in the creation of an exhibition which showcased the collection in a much more accessible way than ever before.
The embroidery collections were made available to prisoners at HMP Edinburgh and HMP Corton Vale through workshops.
Participants created accurate textile replicas of the original embroideries to be used as tactile handling samples for everyone to experience the pieces through touch. These were complemented by 3D printed replicas of some pieces, also allowing for direct handling.
The RNIB supported the project with expert advice throughout as consultants contributing to the development of the tactile prototype. They also facilitated a tour of the exhibition which provided people with access in a supported environment.
Audio descriptions of individual pieces were created, enabling blind and visually impaired people to access the collection.