Orlando Museum of Art and eSight partner to make art more accessible

As a hallmark of its 2025 Florida Prize in Contemporary Art exhibition, the Orlando Museum of Art (OMA) has formed a partnership to launch a revolutionary accessibility initiative that will better enable people living with vision loss to experience art to the fullest. 

Thanks to OMA’s collaboration with assistive tech innovator eSight by Gentex Corporation, museum visitors with low vision are granted access to art by using the eSight Go wearable device. This revolutionary technology uses state-of-the-art camera systems and high-resolution screens to significantly enhance sight. 

Visitors were able to check out such devices for free during OMA’s future Access for All days previously on June 19, as well as upcoming dates of July 17 and August 21. Access for All at OMA falls on the third Thursday of each month, where OMA grants free admission to all visitors and extends operation hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Created for people with central vision loss, the eSight Go wearable device supports over 20 different eye conditions and allows users to experience life and art with newfound clarity.

At the heart of this initiative is the story of Kelly Joy Ladd, one of the 10 featured artists in this year’s Florida Prize. In 2020, a traumatic brain injury left her unable to engage with the visual world the way she once could. That year, she visited the Florida Prize exhibit but left in tears, unable to see the work she once loved. 

Fast forward to 2025, and Ladd is not just seeing art — she’s creating it. Her inclusion in this year’s Florida Prize exhibition is a full-circle moment that inspired the museum’s collaboration with eSight.

“As an artist, being unable to experience art due to my vision impairment was heartbreaking,” Ladd said in a news release. “Being a part of the Florida Prize and this initiative that brings art to people in similar situations is a huge honor.”

Ladd is also speaking to museum visitors at select Access for All days about her journey, her art and her vision for inclusion in the arts. 

“Hearing Kelly Joy Ladd’s story, we saw a unique opportunity to make the Florida Prize experience more inclusive for visitors with vision impairments,” Cathryn Mattson, CEO of OMA, said in a news release. “Partnering with eSight brings our mission to life by ensuring that everyone, regardless of vision ability, can fully experience the stories and creativity showcased in this exhibition.”

The OMA/eSight partnership isn’t just a victory for the museum — it’s a landmark for the broader arts community. 

“Art has the power to move us, challenge us and connect us — and everyone deserves the chance to experience it fully,” Roland Mattern, director of sales for eSight, said in a news release.

To learn more about eSight Go and how it’s changing lives, visit eSightEyewear.com.