Hello, my name is Mieke! I am currently working in the Heritage Collections team at the Centre for Research Collections as an accessibility intern for audio description. During term time, I study at ECA on the MA Fine Art course. I initially applied for this internship because I was excited about the prospect of learning how to do audio description to help improve the accessibility of university exhibition spaces. I have really enjoyed this process so far and have been surprised by the varied content of my days. I have had the opportunity to learn so much more about the heritage collections and the work that they do than I anticipated, which has been fantastic! Also, unexpectedly, I have learnt a lot about the anatomy of the eye and electronic circuits due to the nature of the exhibition content, which has been really engaging – I have appreciated the chance to learn new things that lie outside of my degree discipline. A highlight for me has been being able to get acquainted with the University’s collections and working closely with the collection items both in the CRC and the Anatomy Museum.
The project that I am working on is creating an audio description guide for an upcoming exhibition on the 6th floor called Phenomenal Bodies. We are working with the charity VocalEyes to do this and have had training from them in how to make the most accessible, engaging audio guides that enrich the exhibition experience for people who are blind and partially sighted, as well as for every visitor. Writing the scripts for these descriptions has offered me the opportunity to develop my critical thinking skills in editing and prioritising information. Each object featured in the exhibition has a rich amount of historical, material and visual information attached to it. However, the audio descriptions need to be quite short so that they remain easy to listen to, and this makes it necessary to be decisive in prioritising information for the listener. Looking forward to the coming weeks, I am also excited to learn about the technicalities of audio recording in a studio.
Reflecting on my experience so far, I have learned so much about the process of audio descriptions, exhibition making and accessibility within heritage spaces, particularly concerning small, low-cost adjustments that institutions can make to ensure their spaces are inclusive and welcoming for all. Working as part of the Heritage Collections team has been absolutely lovely. The team has been so welcoming and supportive, and there is a strong emphasis on work/life balance. If I were to advise future interns, I would say don’t be afraid to ask questions. Everyone I have spoken to has been happy to talk about their roles or clarify any queries I had, and I have learned so much in the process!
