Museo Novecento Firenze launches tactile multisensory tour

Museo Novecento in Florence has inaugurated a new tactile and multisensory path allowing visitors to experience 20th-century artworks through touch and hearing, using tactile replicas and digital tools. The project, launched on the museum's tenth anniversary, aims to remove physical and cognitive barriers, aligning with ICOM's updated museum definition emphasizing accessibility and inclusivity. Director Sergio Risaliti stated the museum dedicated one of its finest rooms to house tactile reproductions of masterpieces from the collection, including works by Giorgio Morandi, Arturo Martini, Marino Marini, Fortunato Depero, and Ottone Rosai. Paintings were reinterpreted in three dimensions, while sculptures used materials similar to the originals. The initiative involves the Municipality of Florence, Mus.e, the Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired of Florence, and the GeCo Laboratory of the University of Florence's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, with support from the Ministry of Culture under PNRR projects for removing physical and cognitive barriers. Tools include tactile maps, podotactile paths, QR-code-accessible digital content, audio descriptions, videos with subtitles and Italian Sign Language (LIS), and a welcome guide for all audiences.