On March 16, Milton Keynes Gallery reopens following a significant development that will see a doubling of exhibition space on the previous building, a new purpose built auditorium that will host independent film and live events, and a new dedicated learning studio.
As part of the development, the gallery was determined to ensure the building could be enjoyed by all members of the public and so have installed a Changing Places Toilet in the building, thanks to generous funding from the Margaret Powell Foundation Fund through Milton Keynes Community Foundation.
The new facility meets the needs of those with profound learning disabilities and physical disabilities such as spinal injuries, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy, providing the following:
A height adjustable adult-sized changing bench and hoist system
Shower facilities with a non-slip floor
Space for the disabled person and two carers
Centrally places toilet with room and support rails either side
Tear off paper roll and disposal facilities for disposable pads
A screen to allow for privacy
“The Changing Places Toilet helps make good on our vision to be a truly accessible venue for all those in our community," said Anthony Spira, director at MK Gallery.
"We talk a lot about accessibility and ensuring that the Gallery can be enjoyed by all, and the Changing Places Toilet helps towards those ambitions and indeed is one of the things we’re most proud of at the new MK Gallery. We’d like to offer our sincerest thanks to the MK Community foundation for their generosity in funding this incredible facility.”
Ian Revell, chief executive of MK Community Foundation added: “We are delighted to fund the Changing Places Toilet as part of the fantastic redevelopment of MK Gallery.
"It’s important that we lead the way in improving accessibility to the Arts. This project is a brilliant example of how we can put people and the centre of redesigning a public space that will, undoubtedly, have both regional and national impact.”
Pictured: Hywel Jones, Head of Development and Communications, MK Gallery with Ian Revell, Chief Executive of MK Community Foundation
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