Research on the Art Needs of Blindness in China: A Case Study

People with blindness onstitute a significant proportion of the population both in China as well as and worldwide. However, the artistic needs of people with blindness are often overlooked, and existing exhibitions are often constrained by visualism. To address this gap, this paper utilizes uses qualitative research methods to explore the real experiences and needs of five people in China, with no other sensory impairments besides blindness, through semi-structured, in-depth interviews. The results of this paper show that the common artistic needs of people with blindness can be summarized into four primary areas:the need for multisensory engagement, the need for narratives and resonance with life experiences, the need for interaction and participation, and the need for social equality. This paper suggests that art institutions should go beyond providing accessibility at the technical level and further strive to create inclusive art spaces that treat people with blindness as collaborators and participants in art. This paper provides a theoretical basis for promoting more accessible and equitable practices in art for people with blindness in China.