Gallery of Modern Art.

Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art is located in the centre of Glasgow, just off Buchanan Street and is probably most famous for having a statue of The Duke of Wellington outside it with a traffic cone on his head.

Who says Glaswegians aren't cultured?

See Glasgow? See a big stone man with a cone for a hat.

As far as venues go GoMA is a tricky one, being as it is quite small (relatively speaking) and walking around it is a bit like wandering around a brightly lit rabbit warren as designed by Stanley Kubrick.

And if/when the main gallery is closed (as it was yesterday) it gets worse seeing as your only choices then are to either turn right and walk into a wall or turn left into a huge throng of people eager to go into the lift.

Or the cafe.

Or the library.

Which is in the cafe.

Confused?

You will be.

Put it this way, I've had work exhibited there and I still get overwhelmed going in.

The calmest bit of GoMA....Outside by the railings.

Beating a hasty retreat to the exit I grabbed the nearest member of staff and began asking her about the galleries Autism Aware label.

And I have to say she was really good.

Friendly, knowledgeable and with time to chat she explained everything the museum was planning and even went as far as showing me the Autism backpacks that have been put together for kids visiting.

These consist of ear defenders, emotion and PECS cards and little coloured lens things that I really wanted to try myself.

That's not all tho' because if you so require you can download an Autism friendly visual storyboard (as opposed to an audio one I guess) to plan your trip here.*

I was also told that the museum was planning a series of Autism Friendly events alongside Autism friendly visiting hours.

Now some of you may have noticed that Autism Friendly visiting/shopping hours seem to be a big thing at the moment where huge businesses and the like graciously offer to open their doors (and turn the music off) for 60 minutes a week to help Autistic families shop.

Which on paper seems a good idea until you realise that it's never at a normal time, rather it's usually 9 - 10 on a Sunday morning.

You know when the major retail parks are empty and maybe want to get extra punters in?

Cynical?

Me?

As an Autistic person (or person with Autism or whatever the buzz phrase is this week) this is actually what it feels like to enter GoMA when it's busy.

To be fair tho' When I pointed out that quite a few parents find this an unrealistic time to come out and it'd be a lot more Autism Friendly (and accepting) to have these special times during, say 'normal' shopping/visting hours the staff member replied by saying that actually that was a good point and she'd make a note to tell the boss.

And with that I thank her for her time and disappeared into the city.

But guess what?

She actually thanked me too.

GoMA - lovely, thoughtful staff who genuinely seem to want to become more Autism aware and have time to listen.

Now we just have to knock a few walls thru' and maybe add a touch of blue to the place and we'll be sorted.

I for one am looking forward to seeing what they do.





*As an aside the visual guides (I'm not calling them visual storyboards as a storyboard by it's very nature is visual - sorry it's my Autism showing) this may be a good idea but checking them by my podlings there are a few phrases that could maybe be updated.

No it's not, it's empty.....this may be confusing so bung a staff member or two in pretending to type and bingo! sorted!

This sounds vaguely ominous and a wee bit grumpy....'The art work is very fragile so don't touch it" is much friendlier and less negative sounding.

If it's sunken where is the water? or the pirate treasure? or the mermaids? - To be honest I've no idea what you'd call it.....maybe just "You can go down stairs to a small gallery"?

Other than that it's a great idea.