The Ocean City Arts Center will present ‘More Than Touch, A Connection,’ a groundbreaking traveling exhibition that reimagines how art is experienced. Opening July 1 at the Ocean City Arts Center Gallery, 1735 Simpson Avenue (2nd Floor), the exhibition invites visitors — especially those who are blind or have low vision — to experience art through touch, sound, and sensory exploration.
Unlike traditional galleries where touching artwork is prohibited, ‘More Than Touch, A Connection,’ encourages visitors to engage with every work through their hands. The exhibition features 39 tactile works created by artists from across the region, including richly textured paintings, sculpture, fiber art, ceramics and mixed media.
Each artwork is accompanied by large-print labels and professionally recorded audio descriptions that provide detailed information about the work’s appearance, composition, textures, artistic process, and meaning. Together, these accessibility features allow visitors to experience art independently and in ways that are rarely available in traditional gallery settings. Artists’ statements and short bios are available in large print format in the gallery and online in accessible format at oceancityartscenter.org. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own earbuds or headphones to use with their smartphones when accessing the exhibition’s audio descriptions. A limited number of sanitized headphones will also be available to borrow free of charge for those who do not have their own.
‘More Than Touch, A Connection,’ is unique among the Arts Center’s monthly gallery shows as the premiere of a traveling exhibit initiated by the Ocean City Arts Center and realized through a collaborative partnership with the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts in Millville and Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University in Atlantic City. Following its Ocean City presentation, the exhibition will travel to Riverfront Renaissance Center this fall and then to the Noyes Arts Garage in early 2027.
In addition to the exhibition, each venue will offer ancillary programming designed to deepen visitors’ understanding of tactile art and inclusive gallery experiences. Artist biographies, statements, and a complete schedule of the tour and programming are available at oceancityartscenter.org.
“Art is a universal language, yet traditional exhibitions rely almost entirely on sight,” said Chase Jackson, Curator of the exhibition. “More Than Touch, A Connection removes those barriers by creating a welcoming environment where visitors who are blind or have low vision can experience artwork independently through touch and sound. At the same time, it encourages sighted visitors to discover just how powerful a multi-sensory art experience can be.”
Exhibit runs from July 1 through July 29 at Ocean City Arts Center Gallery, 1735 Simpson Avenue, Ocean City. Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9am to 9pm and Saturday from 9am to 3pm. Groups of 5 or more should contact the office in advance to ensure we can accommodate your visit and provide the best touring experience.
An opening reception will be held Friday, July 10, from 7:00–8:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy light refreshments, opportunities to meet participating artists, and guided sensory experiences led by accessibility-trained docents. Sighted visitors are invited to wear blindfolds or vision simulators to gain a deeper appreciation for navigating art through senses other than sight.
Funding for More Than Touch, A Connection was provided through a Challenge America grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, whose support has helped make this innovative, accessible exhibition possible. Additional support was provided through the Andy Warhol and Helen Frankenthaler Foundations and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
For more information about the exhibition, accessibility accommodations, or the complete schedule of events, visit oceancityartscenter.org, call 609-399-7628, or email info@oceancityartscenter.org.
The Ocean City Arts Center enriches lives through the visual and performing arts by providing exhibitions, performances, educational programs, and creative opportunities for people of all ages. Serving Ocean City and the greater Cape Atlantic region, the Arts Center is committed to fostering creativity, celebrating diversity, and making the arts accessible to everyone through innovative programming and scholarship assistance for those with financial need.
