The established Baluji Music Foundation is announcing the start of its new research project ‘Blind to the Facts 2022’, which will focus on identifying why employment rates of blind and partially sighted people in music are particularly low and how the barriers can be addressed to create change.
The study that will be led by Dr Claire Castle of Bravo Victor will be carried out across the geographic focus area of London but the research that will be required from this area will have national implications and benefits. Funded by Vision Foundation, the project also aims to raise awareness of the issues amongst a group of stakeholders who are in a position to provide greater support and opportunities to blind or partially sighted people in the music industry.
The duration of this research will be carried out across 12 months, which begin late September, 2022. This new project will accumulate research that will be an update and extension of research that was commissioned by Baluji Shrivastav OBE in1995 and supported by the RNIB and Platinum Trust. In 1995, this particular research identified the challenges for blind musicians working in the UK and led to the establishment of the Baluji Music Foundation and the Inner Vision Orchestra, the only orchestra of professional blind musicians in the UK. As the new project begins, there is hope of future changes and growth within organisations for blind musicians working in the UK.
Original Source: The Baluji Music Foundation
Words By Camen Lees-Green