Natalie Earhart of Almost Real Things addressed the Austin Arts Commission during public communication at the Jan. 27 meeting to announce an open call for the organization’s third annual Touch the Art program.

Earhart said the program partners with the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and offers two participation tracks: a mentorship cohort that selects five artists (each awarded a $500 stipend and materials coverage) to work weekly with students for six weeks to create a collaborative installation, and a gallery submission track for artists whose tactile work will be part of the public exhibition. Earhart said the mentorship application deadline is Jan. 31 and the gallery submission deadline is Feb. 16, and directed interested artists to almostrealthings.com/open-call for details.

Why it matters

Touch the Art is a tactile-focused exhibition and mentorship that aims to expand access to museum/gallery practice for blind and visually impaired students and to provide training in working with neurodivergent and visually impaired participants. The program offers modest stipends and material support and a public exhibition in April–May (exact show dates were not fully specified at the meeting).

No formal action was taken by the commission in response to the public comment.