(Image alt text: a collage of head and shoulder photos of 6 of the new VocalEyes Trustees. The collage is arranged in 2 rows, people on each row: Top row, from left to right: Alex Bulmer, Sarah Boud, Anna Ayrapetyan. Bottom row, from left to right: Stephen Taylor, Chris Lewis and Alex McEwan)

Clockwise from top left: Alex Bulmer, Sarah Boud, Anna Ayrapetyan, Alex McEwan, Chris Lewis and Stephen Taylor

Changing Faces

50% of VocalEyes new board identify as blind or visually impaired

Arts Professional
2 min read

VocalEyes has welcomed eight new trustees to succeed long-term board members who will step down at the end of their final terms.

The new appointees are writer, theatre maker, actor and educator ALEX BULMER; artist, consultant and creative director of Albatross Arts CIC ALEX MCEWAN; wealth manager ANNA AYRAPETYAN; telecoms industry analyst CHRIS LEWIS; civil service leader EDWARD GREEN; fundraising manager SARAH BOUD; broadcasting manager STEPHEN TAYLOR; and MASUMA ALI who works for RNIB.

The Arts Council England Investment Principles Support Organisation, which provides audio descriptions and touch tours for theatres, alongside audio description services, consultancy and accessible training for cultural and heritage organisations, now has over 50% of trustees who identify as blind or visually impaired.

STEPHEN HILTON, VocalEyes interim chair, said the new appointees bring “a wealth of experience, skills and knowledge across business, finance and the arts, along with invaluable lived experience of sight loss”.

He continued: “Their firsthand understanding of the profound impact of live audio description will be essential as we move forward.”

CLAIRE SADDLETON, VocalEyes CEO, said: “I am thrilled to welcome our new trustees. Their diverse expertise, lived experience, and shared passion for making culture accessible will be invaluable as we advance our mission to enhance opportunities for blind and visually impaired audiences and visitors.”