A new mobile video guide for deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors has premiered at the Marina Tsvetaeva House Museum, announced by the capital’s Ministry of Culture. The rollout widens access beyond traditional Russian Sign Language tours, giving guests the opportunity to explore the exhibits at their own pace with greater independence.
The official notice explains that the program enables free movement through the space and invites visitors to experience the collection at a comfortable tempo. Deaf and hard-of-hearing guests will receive guided tablets at no charge to support this enhanced accessibility.
Alexey Fursin, head of Moscow’s Department of Culture, described the guide as a state-of-the-art tool that uses neural network assisted object recognition. He noted that this marks a first for any Moscow museum in deploying such an advanced accessibility solution.
According to Fursin, the method works by inviting visitors to point the tablet at an object to immediately engage with the exhibit’s story through short videos presented in Russian Sign Language. The user interface includes an animated menu that allows independent selection of objects or a proactive system prompt that suggests narratives connected to objects in the room.
Another notable feature is that when a user focuses the tablet on an item, concise information about that object appears. The content is delivered through brief videos accompanied by subtitles in Russian Sign Language, ensuring clear comprehension for users with hearing impairments.
The project was led by Lyudmila Zhadan, a philologist, teacher of Russian Sign Language, and licensed tour guide. Her team recorded more than twelve hours of draft footage to develop a dedicated RSL tour designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors who have not yet visited the museum in person.
The team also produced a separate RSL-focused tour specifically for those who could not visit the venue, with materials accessible via the institution’s YouTube channel. The museum emphasizes that this video guide is not a replacement for in-person tours but rather a complementary resource that broadens access and enriches the visitor experience.
In addition to the video guide, the Ministry of Culture highlighted Marina Tsvetaeva’s house museum as a pioneer in inclusive programming. The ongoing initiative, titled The House Where No One Knocks…, integrates events tailored for hearing-impaired audiences, along with adapted excursions and ongoing staff training to support inclusive storytelling. The program underscores the museum’s commitment to making cultural heritage more accessible to diverse communities in Moscow and beyond, including visitors across Canada and the United States who seek robust, flexible ways to engage with literary history.