Art Gallery of Western Australia

Telephone Contact: (08) 9492 6600

A Summary of Accessibility

The Art Gallery of Western Australia provides good facilities for those people who use a wheelchair, except for some limitations in the toilets. Two manual and one electric scooter are available for loan to those peole who have an ambulant disability and may sometimes require a wheelchair.
Circulation space is good and a lift is available to access the upper level of the exhibition space. Seating is available within the venue, however, it is quite low and some people may find it difficult to get up off.
Staff are available to offer assistance and guided group tours of the exhibition can also be arranged.
A set down/pick up area is available and accessible parking bays are in close proximity to the venue.

Assistance Available

There is assistance available at this venue. It is suggested you ring the venue beforehand to discuss your specific access needs, i.e. to arrange use of the set down area or electric scooter.
The contact position is: Security
Telephone number is: 9492 6600.
Please contact Public Programs on the above telephone number to arrange a group tour or a guide who signs.

Public Transport (TransPerth's online Journey Planner)

There are a bus stops on Beaufort Street. There is a blue CAT bus to this venue, which stops on Beaufort Street (Cultural Centre stop) and WIlliam Street (Alexander Library stop).
The nearest train station is Perth. The path from the train station to this venue is wheelchair accessible.
There is a set down / pick up point at the front of the venue which is suitable for cars, taxis and maxi taxis. Usage of the set down area must be arranged with security prior to arrival.

Parking

There are 4 accessible parking bays located at the Cultural Centre (number 6) car park. Entrance to the carpark is off Roe Street.
Two bays are on Level 1 and the other two are on Level 3. The bays are wide and even and are identified by the International Symbol of Access.
People using these bays must display a current ACROD parking permit.

Approach to the Building

The path from the accessible parking bay, to the front door is wide and even, and approximately 40 -50 metres long.
The paths from the CAT stops to the front door are wide and even, and approximately 200 metres long. There is a ramp en route from the William Street (Alexander Library) CAT stop, which is slightly too steep.
The path from the train station to the front door is wide and even. People who use a wheelchair need to use the lift to go from station platform level to Art Gallery level. There are directional tactile ground surface indicators from the overpass leading to the State Library. Although the tactile indicators pass by the Art Gallery, they do not provide any indication as to the location of the main entrance.
The path from the set-down area to the front door is wide and even, and approximately 10 metres long.
Signage to the building is clear.

Main Entrance

The main entrance is level but has a heavy glass door. Staff are available to open the door.
The information desk is not wheelchair accessible, but assistance is available.

Foyer, Corridors and General Areas

There is sufficient circulation space to move through all essential areas of this facility.

Lifts

There is a lift available in the main gallery area. The lift is big enough for a wheelchair to turn around in. Circulation space outside the lift is big enough to allow wheelchair access. The lift is close to the exhibition area.
The lift has large buttons which are not lit up. The internal and external control panels are too high to be reached from a wheelchair. The lift does have an audible bell.
The emergency stop button is too high for a wheelchair user to reach and is in poor visual contrast to the background. The emergency telephone is within easy reach for all.
The lift accesses all publicly accessible floors. The lift is easy to find but is not well signed.

Exhibition area

At the time of the audit, there is sufficient circulation space to move through the exhibition area.
Most exhibition pieces are at an appropriate position for viewing from a wheelchair.
Seating is available within the exhibition space, but does not have any armrests and is quite low to the ground.
Written information is also available in spoken word format by hiring an auditory headset guide. Good finger dexterity and vision is required to use the headset. The headset has a volume control dial.
Alternatively, a guided group tour may be booked through Public Programs. The tours can be customised for patrons needs. For example, a guide who can do sign language can be provided.

Toilets

There is a female and a male wheelchair accessible toilet facility in the main reception area.
The toilet complies with Australian Standards, except that there is inadequate space at the side of the pan and no rail on the rear wall. This means that some people who usually transfer from the side of the pan may have difficulty accessing this toilet.
Also there is no knee space underneath the basin and the soap dispenser is located too high, making washing hands difficult.