Advertisement
Touching Narratives is a 4-hour, multi-sensory workshop designed to introduce participants to tactile art-making and the fundamentals of audio description. Led by artist and accessibility consultant/professional audio describer, Wanda Fitzgerald, the workshop provides an inclusive, hands-on experience where participants explore creative expression through touch, sound, and sensory storytelling.Participants begin by creating a small tactile artwork using modelling paste, textured materials, and mixed-media techniques that emphasize depth, contrast, and surface detail. Through guided instruction, they learn how to design compositions that are engaging both visually and through touch.
The second component of the workshop introduces participants to audio description as an accessibility practice within the arts. Using a simple, structured approach, participants develop a concise audio description of their own artwork, focusing on spatial orientation, texture, form, and overall impression. They then record their audio description using a QR code, NFC tag, or recordable button that becomes part of the final piece.
The workshop is intentionally designed to be accessible to participants of varying experience levels, including those who are blind or low-vision. All demonstrations include verbal description, tactile guidance is available, and the working environment supports multiple learning styles.
By the end of the session, each participant will have:
- A completed tactile artwork
- A recorded, self-written audio description
- An introduction to accessible and multi-sensory art practices
- A deeper understanding of how tactile and auditory elements can enhance artistic communication
This workshop offers organizations and artists an opportunity to support inclusive programming, broaden community engagement, and promote accessible arts practices in a practical, creative, and meaningful way.
Date: Saturday June 20, 2026
Time: 12:00-4:00pm
Cost: $80
Materials:
- Meaningful Personal Materials
- Fabric scraps from clothing or linens
- Small keepsakes (buttons, charms, stones)
- Ribbon, lace, or string with sentimental value
- Pressed leaves or natural textures
- Broken jewelry or trinkets
- Textured paper, notebook fragments, postcards
- Small symbolic objects (keys, tokens, shells)
All items should be small, clean, and safe to adhere to artwork.
Advertisement
Event Venue
1350 16th Street East, Owen Sound, ON, Canada, Ontario N4K 6N7
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
