“See through touch – Wroclaw in miniature” is an exceptional project and awareness campaign undertaken by the Wrocław Regional Council of Disabled People. Campaign partners are: the City of Wroclaw and ING Real Estate Development - developer of the Thespain building in Wroclaw. The campaign is targeted at a wide audience, but is primarily for the blind and visually impaired.
The campaign aims to present miniatures of Wroclaw monuments and architecturally interesting buildings, complete with descriptions in Braille. The miniatures are made of bronze and placed on a pedestal at a height of 60 cm, to provide easy access to children and those who use wheelchairs. The project gives particularly the blind and vision impaired a unique chance to explore historic buildings and architectural treasures of Wroclaw. It is also an opportunity to commune with the world's cultural heritage, which has so far remained beyond their reach.
Part I of the campaign carried out by the Regional Council in 2008/2009 with the City of Wroclaw concerned the development and exhibition of cast bronze miniatures (scaled 1:100) of the Town Hall and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.
Part II of the campaign is carried out by the Wrocław Regional Council of Disabled People in cooperation with ING Real Estate Development. The one-year campaign will be conducted in late 2010, early 2011. During the campaign implementation, 3 miniature pearls of Wroclaw architecture will arise: the Wroclaw Opera House, St. Elizabeth’s garrison church, and the Thespian building- a contemporary version of a 19th century townhouse. Casting of Wroclaw’s miniatures was done by “Wytwórnia” - a group of Wroclaw sculptors under the leadership of Piotr Makała.
A very important element of the second part of the campaign is the website which you have the pleasure of either reading or listening to right now.
The website www.dotknijwroclawia.pl, is dedicated not only to the miniatures, but also interesting places in Wroclaw accessible to the blind.
This unique project aims to encourage blind people from across the country to explore Wroclaw. The site has been created in a friendly manner, in consultation with the Wrocław Regional Council of Disabled People as well as consulation with blind and visually impaired people.
The website is adapted to the needs of the blind and vision impaired. Easy navigation of the site, the possibility to listen to the text or to use a magnifying glass to view the pictures – these are some of the features implemented here in this site. The coordinator of the second part of the "Seeing through touch - Wroclaw in miniature" campaign is the public relations agency PR time.
The miniatures and the virtual tour of Wroclaw for the blind and visually impaired is the first project of its kind in Poland. The intention of ING Real Estate Development, Wroclaw’s local government and the Regional Council of Disabled People is to educate through fun as well as to eliminate barriers including barriers to social inclusion of people with disabilities. Wroclaw is characterized by a perfect climate for initiatives aimed at bringing together people with different cultures, educational backgrounds, origins, and also with varying degrees of ability.
We invite you to visit the capital of Lower Silesia, the city of a hundred bridges, the Venice of the North, a place with a unique atmosphere……Wroclaw – The Meeting Place!