AMFA Expands Accessible Offerings with New Guided Tours & Sensory-Friendly Hours

New Fall Programs Complement Existing Accessibility Accommodations

The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA) is pleased to announce a new range of free offerings designed to welcome and accommodate all guests.

In addition to AMFA’s weekly schedule of docent-led tours, dedicated gallery tours for guests needing American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation have been added to the fall lineup each month, as well as tours in Spanish (visitas guiadas en Español).

AMFA’s docents have received training from industry specialists on leading tours for guests with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and visual impairments. A gallery tour for guests with dementia or Alzheimer’s will take place on September 26, while guests with visual impairments can experience a docent-led gallery tour on November 7.

Guests with sensory sensitivities can anticipate an afternoon of sensory-friendly museum hours with reduced gallery lighting and a quiet area on October 10.

“As ‘America’s most inviting art museum,’ AMFA has a commitment to accessibility and inclusivity,” says AMFA’s Deputy Director and Director of Membership and Guest Services, Spencer Jansen. “We continue to actively address barriers for guests and provide them with free solutions so they can enjoy all the museum has to offer.”

These offerings expand on existing accessibility accommodations available at AMFA free of charge. Guests may access wheelchairs, booster seats, portable stools, EnChroma glasses, sensory bags, and weighted blankets at any time during a visit to the museum.

Audio tours and transcripts highlighting AMFA’s building, grounds, and art on view are available in both English and Spanish in the museum’s free mobile guide.

Additionally, audiences have access to live open captioning during artist talks and filmmaker discussions, and every AMFA-produced children’s theatre show run includes an ASL-interpreted performance and a sensory-friendly performance.

The following is the fall schedule of AMFA’s accessible programming:

• Museum Tours with ASL Interpretation – September 10, October 8, November 12, and December 10 at 2:00 p.m. (free admission; no registration required)
• Visitas Guiadas en Español ­– September 24, October 22, November 26, and December 17 at 2:00 p.m. (free admission; registration required)
• Museum Tour for Guests with Dementia or Alzheimer’s – September 26 at 2:00 p.m. (free admission; registration required)
• Museum Tour for Guests with Visual Impairments – November 7 at 2:00 p.m. (free admission; registration required)
• Sensory-Friendly Hours – October 10 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. (free admission; no registration required)
• Corduroy (sensory-friendly performance) – December 2 at 10:30 a.m. ($15 for members; $20 for non-members)
• Corduroy (ASL-interpreted performance) – December 2 at 2:00 p.m. ($15 for members; $20 for non-members)

AMFA is compliant with accessibility code ANSI A117.1, as well as with all federal, state, and city life safety and building code regulations.

General admission is always free at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. To learn more about accessibility accommodations, contact guest services at 501.372.4000 or connect@arkmfa.org.