Christchurch Art Gallery are launching Sign Language Tours for the Deaf community to coincide with New Zealand Sign Language Week from May 2-8.

Christchurch Art Gallery are launching Sign Language Tours for the Deaf community to coincide with New Zealand Sign Language Week from May 2-8.

As part of the late night tour on Wednesday 5 May, a Sign Language interpreter will join participants and a Gallery guide on a free excursion around the Gallery. After an introduction to the building, participants will then be led on a forty-five minute tour around a sample of the current exhibitions.

Acting Gallery Director Neil Semple says this is a welcome opportunity for the Deaf community to enjoy a new, stimulating visitor experience at Christchurch Art Gallery.

“Part of our role as a public Gallery is to connect people to art and ensure our exhibitions can be accessed and enjoyed by the wider community.

“Sign Language is more than just a preferred language, it’s one of New Zealand’s official languages. These new Sign Language tours allow us to extend our level of service by offering the Deaf community an opportunity to explore the visual language of art, in a language they relate to.”

The Sign Language tours for the Deaf community will take place every three months, with the first tour starting on Wednesday 5 May from 7.15pm – 8pm. Two other tours will take place later this year, on 4 August 2010 and 3 November 2010.

All are welcome to attend, no booking required. Meet at the front desk.