Black Country Women -
A Spatial Sound Journey
Share Your Thoughts
Tuesday 23rd June
10:00-1:30
Dorothy Parkes Centre,
Church Rd, Smethwick B67 6EH
Drop-in welcome, booking reccommended
E mail beyondvisionSAC@icloud.com
The experience runs on the hour and half hour, and lasts approximately 30 to 40 minutes.
Film commissioned by The Space
A film by Amy Hill korufilms.co.uk
Beyond Vision: Black Country Women – A Spatial Sound Journey is an immersive, walking, spatial sound only, experience of Warley Woods. It places you into the body of a visually impaired person, and you will listen to a story of joy from a woman from Sandwell Visually Impaired. Beyond Vision flips the question from "how do we help blind people to see" to "how do visually impaired and blind people already experience the world".
The experience takes place in a Meta Quest VR headset, your vision will be restricted and you will be supported by a real-life, sighted guide.
“ it was just a brilliant way to show people how people with a vision impairment experience the world”
Presently 360 sound lets you look around from a fixed spot. Beyond Vision's spatial sound allows you to walk forward, crouch down and stand back up. We invite you to close your eyes to fully experience the work and to discover the difference between hearing Warley Woods and feeling like you are physically there.
“I’ve never experienced spatial audio, sounds coming from different directions. It's very realistic, how it feels when you've got a bee coming up close to you, and the road... I did kind of almost stand there, thinking, is it safe to cross now?”
Beyond Vision is created by Sarah-Ann Cromwell, with founder of Immersion Sound Studio Ltd, audio engineer and registered blind Freya Shaw and built by John Thornewill Red Nought. The experience is made in collaboration with visually impaired women for sighted people. This is a Space Digital First Commission in partnership with Creative Black Country, made possible with funding from Arts Council England.
Beyond Vision: Stereo Audio Preview
Map of Beyond Vision: BCW
The Creative Team
Sarah-Ann Cromwell
Creative Director & Project Lead
Sarah-Ann Cromwell works in spatial audio, immersive experiences and accessibility, creating audio-led environments that improve access for visually impaired users and support mindfulness, learning and inclusive engagement. She was awarded the WMCA Activate Skills Development Grant to undertake studies in audio description and blind gaming, and has studied with the RNIB, Roz Chalmers MBE and Dr Louise Fryer. She has 20 years' experience in creative education (from KS1 to MA lecturer level), and is a project manager, accessibility consultant and volunteer for the user-led charity Sandwell Visually Impaired. She is also an award-winning international operatic comedian.
Freya Shaw
Lead Interactive Designer & Audio Engineer (Immersion Sound)
Freya Shaw is the registered blind founder of Immersion Sound Studio, a company that creates commissioned music and binaural sound design for media such as videogames and exhibitions, while also developing Hodr Engine, a no code spatial audio creation tool backed by Innovate UK and the University of Bristol. Hodr Engine also acts as a screen reader accessible layer for existing software, and is designed for developers of any sight condition or level of technical experience. Freya shares knowledge of accessible game development at events including SpillKonventet and DevCom, proving that you don’t need sight to have vision.
John Thornewill
Technical Lead & Engine Architect (Red Nought)
John Thornewill of Red Nought has created games ranging from Ivor the Engine and The Clangers through to cutting-edge full-motion VR simulator experiences. He developed Red Forge, a game engine that enables visually impaired gamers to play complex games without assistance, and is the creator of Virtual Guide Dogs, a revolutionary system that allows blind and visually impaired people to explore new environments such as campuses, venues and museums at their own pace, without the need for a sighted companion, using a Meta Quest VR headset and controller.
Meet the wonderful women of Sandwell Visually Impaired
Sandra Troth
My name is Sandra Troth I’m the development worker with the Sandwell visually impaired, SVI. I am about 5 foot two. I have blonde hair with some pink strands in it. I inhabit an older body but inside I’m 21 and I’m a white woman.
Sandra is a dedicated advocate for the visually impaired community in the Black Country. She has consulted extensively on accessible heritage, theatre projects, mental health and exercise accessibility for the community. As a strategic local voice, Sandra champions that the lived experience of blind and partially sighted people remains at the heart of both regional policy and the community arts.
Perm Bhachu
Hello, my name is Perm Bhachu. I am second generation Asian. I’m born and bred in Brum and moved to the Black Country when I got married. I am 5 foot four-ish, I have very long red hair to my waist. I have brown eyes and I have medium to lightish skin. I work for a local sight loss charity, helping people with complex needs and vision impairment. In my spare time, I am West midlands lead for Retina UK, I co-facilitate the women’s online group with my colleague and I am a patient volunteer at Aston University.
Perm is a leading disability advocate and media contributor for BBC and ITV News. Her work spans filming for the RNIB’s ‘See the Person’ campaign, to academic research partnerships with Loughborough University, focusing on accessibility and inclusion.
Sabah
My name is Sabah. I’m 26 years old. I have a degree in early childhood studies. I am 5 foot two in height and I wear a scarf and I’m British Pakistani.
Sabah is a Community Contributor, Lived Experience Advocate and an insightful voice in Sandwell’s young Visually Impaired community. She is a lead storyteller in the ‘Unseen Memories’ project funded by Creative Black Country and a featured voice in the podcast ‘Blathering with SVI’ by Black Country Touring. By sharing her stories, Sabah wants to increase public understanding and highlight the vital support networks available to those navigating their sight loss journey.