Sculpture highlights importance of alt text
A Sir Antony Gormley sculpture on a Kent beach has had an alternative text (alt text) description added to highlight the importance of making visual content accessible.
Alt text is a written description of an image, read aloud by screen readers to help people with sight loss understand the content of an image.
The description was added to the cast iron sculpture of a figure titled 'Another Time' which is located on Fulsam Rock, in the sea beside the Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate.
Clarrie Wallis, director at Turner Contemporary, said the gallery was committed to making art more inclusive and accessible.
'Huge difference'
The sculpture is only visible when the tide is out, which the gallery says highlights "what’s hidden from blind and partially sighted people if alt text isn’t included when posting any visual content online".
Turner Contemporary partnered with sight loss charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and integrated creative agency MullenLowe UK to create an image description of the sculpture.
The description was created in response to RNIB research which found that only three in 10 respondents were aware of alt text.
Martin Wingfield, RNIB’s director of brand, said alt text makes a "huge difference" to blind and partially sighted people.
"It breaks down barriers and makes content accessible for everyone to enjoy," he added.
