Museums around New York City are offering visitors with low-vision or are blind the opportunity to experience and learn about great works of art. Through monthly verbal description and touch tours, visitors can enjoy a multisensory museum experience, to help compensate for some museums' "no touch" policy. Below is a select list of these tours. Advance appointments are usually required and be sure to call the museum to get updated information.

American Folk Art Museum
45 W. 53rd Street (between 5th and 6th Avenue) New York 10019
212-265-1040 Voice
The museum offers gallery tours with verbal imaging and touch tours of objects from the museum's collection, with one month advance notice.

American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West and 79th Street, New York 10024
212-769-5100 Voice
The museum offers monthly touch exhibits called Science Sense which highlight specific themes and exhibition halls. Call for the schedule and to register.

Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn 11238
718-501-6229 (accessibility info) Voice
718-638-5000 Voice; 718-399-8440 TTY
access@brooklynmuseum.org
The museum offers verbal description and touch tours one Thursday a month at 6:00 pm. Contact the museum Education Department for schedule and reservations.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
1071 Fifth Avenue (at 89^th Street) New York 10128
212-423-3500 Voice / TTY
access@guggenheim.org
The "Mind's Eye" programs are offered on the first Monday of every month. The museum offers verbal imaging and touch tours and workshops, which are led by arts and education professionals who facilitate shared observation, discussion, and creative practice. Call for reservations and schedule.

Jewish Museum
1109 Fifth Avenue (at 92nd Street) New York 10128
212-423-3225 Voice
access@thejm.org
The museum offers touch tours and tactile books by appointment. There is also a monthly verbal imaging tour on the first Monday of each month. Call for the schedule and to make an appointment.

Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue (at 82nd Street) New York 10028
212-650-2010 (accessibility info) Voice, 212-570-3828 TTY
access@metmuseum.org
The museum offers tours of its special touch collection and verbal imaging tours by appointment. There's also a self-guided touch tour, In Touch with Ancient Egypt which consists of six ancient Egyptian sculptures. The museum also offers scheduled programs, which include, Seeing Through Drawing a monthly drawing class for adults who are blind or partially sighted. Another monthly program is Picture This! which incorporates a verbal imaging tour and handling session. Call for appointments to any of these programs and to be put on the mailing list.

MoMA Information Page for Individuals Who Are Blind or Partially SightedMuseum of Modern Art
11 W. 53^rd Street (between 5th and 6th Avenue) New York 10019
212-708-9400 Voice, 212-247-1230
accessprograms@moma.org
The museum offers sculpture and design collection touch tours by appointment. The museum also offers, Art InSight, which is a free monthly touch and verbal description tour of special collections on Tuesdays when the museum is closed. Call for appointment.

Rubin Museum of Art
150 W. 17th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenue) New York 10011
212-620-5000 x375 (accessibility info) Voice
reservations@rmanyc.org
The museum offers verbal imaging and touch tours, which take visitors on a journey that weaves together the culture, history, religion, and art of the Himalayas.

Whitney Museum of American Art
945 Madison Avenue (between 74^th and 75^th Street) New York 10021
212-570-7789 (accessibility info) Voice, 212-671-5378 TTY
accessfeedback@whitney.org
The museum offers individual and monthly verbal description and touch tours with advance reservations.

NYC Official Accessibility Guide PDFFor a full list of access to cultural centers see:

• [PDF] Official Accessibility Guide - NYC.gov

See these links for more about art and low vision:

• Celebrating Art Beyond Sight: The Value of Creating and Appreciating Art for Those with Low Vision
• Drawing on the iPad by artist Fotis Flevotomos
  
• Art and Low-Vision: A Multi-Sensory Museum Experience
• Barrier-Free Library Channel