Anne Hornsby, pioneer of UK Audio Description, launched Mind's Eye in the early 90s to increase access to arts and cultural events for blind and visually impaired theatregoers.

Mind’s Eye operates throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, to provide audio description, descriptive tours, touch tours and handling sessions, audio guides and audio brochures for Theatres, Galleries, Museums, Conferences, Film Festivals and other Cultural Institutions.

Mind’s Eye offers bespoke training for Museums and Galleries working to enhance provision for blind and visually impaired visitors. Anne Hornsby is an accredited Audio Description Association Trainer.

We work with a range of clients including individual Artists, Repertory Theatres, Touring Houses, the Royal Albert Hall, the Manchester International Festival, Disability organisations and Festivals, and Galleries and Museums large and small. Touring Productions include Legally Blonde, Sister Act, Annie,  Joseph, The Sound of Music, Blood Brothers and English National Ballet's The Snow Queen. Visual Arts exhibitions include Warhol and the Diva at the Lowry and The Ancient Egypt Gallery at Manchester Museum. We have described theatre, film, ballet, burlesque, sculpture, painting and even animals at the Zoo!

This short video, produced by The Octagon Theatre in Bolton, explains the process of describing a production by Anne Hornsby of Mind's Eye.

For more information please visit www.octagonbolton.co.uk.

Below hear Anne Hornsby describe a famous work by the artist LS Lowry.

"It’s a real lifeline this service you provide for us blind people".

"I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed the theatre so much, and it’s all down to your audio description".

"I can’t tell you what a difference it makes, having the audio description, it just brings it alive".

"It's like you’ve got an old fuzzy black and white television, then with the audio description it becomes sharp focus and full colour".

Here is an example of an audio introduction and an audio description for As You Like It at the Royal Exchange in Manchester. The first video contains the introduction and the wrestling match without audio desctipion; the second shows the fight with audio description.