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Each week, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell sits down with Matt Stringer, CEO of RNIB, to look at some of the big stories coming from the UK sight loss charity.

This week Matt talks about better employment prospects for blind and partially sighted people, Parliamentary work on several topics and a big thank you to the 100 runners who raised money for RNIB at the London Marathon.

If you, or someone you know, would like information on the support and services available from RNIB, go to www.rnib.org.uk

You can also call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or ask Alexa to call RNIB's Helpline.

#RNIBConnect

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‘Expressionists - Kandinsky, Münter And The Blue Rider’ is a major exhibition at Tate Modern that tells the story of the international circle of friends who came together in the early 20th century to transform modern art. From celebrated artists like Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, Franz Marc and Paul Klee, to previously overlooked figures like Wladimir Burliuk and Maria Franck-Marc.

On Tuesday 23 April 2024 at the Press View of ‘Expressionists - Kandinsky, Münter And The Blue Rider’ at Tate Modern, RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey caught up with Genevieve Barton, Assistant Curator of the exhibition, to find out more about the background to the Blue Rider and how this exhibition reveals the multicultural and transnational nature of such a key moment in early modernist art.

About the exhibition ‘Expressionists - Kandinsky, Münter And The Blue Rider’ -

This major exhibition will tell the story of the international circle of friends who came together in the early 20th century to transform modern art. From celebrated artists like Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, Franz Marc and Paul Klee, to previously overlooked figures like Wladimir Burliuk and Maria Franck-Marc.

The exhibition will reveal the multicultural and transnational nature of this key moment in early modernist art. Drawing on the world’s richest collection of expressionist masterpieces at the Lenbachhaus in Munich alongside rare loans from public and private collections, including some never seen before in the UK, it will celebrate their radical experimentation with form, colour, sound and performance. Experience a collection of masterpieces from paintings, sculpture, and photography to performance and sound. 

The exhibition ‘Expressionists - Kandinsky, Münter And The Blue Rider’ continues at Tate Modern until 20 October 2024.  Description tours are available for blind and partially sighted people but need to be booked in advance via hello@tate.org.uk or on 020 7887 8888.

More details about ‘Expressionists - Kandinsky, Münter And The Blue Rider’ at Tate Modern can be found by visiting the following pages of the Tate website-
https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/expressionists


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RNIB Connect Radio’s Toby Davey is joined again by Vidar Hjardeng MBE, Inclusion and Diversity Consultant for ITV News across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands for the next in his regular Connect Radio theatre reviews.

This week we have all those Stock Aitken Waterman hit factory songs from the 80s and 90s as Vidar was reviewing ‘I Should Be So Lucky’ a brand new musical that is all about love, laughter and last-minute getaways at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham with description by Professional Audio Describer Anne Hornsby. 

About I Should Be So Lucky:

The Wedding’s Off, but the Honeymoon is On! All the hit factory songs you know and love – finally on stage in an all-new, feel-good musical!

Head from the aisle to the isles in the official Stock Aitken Waterman musical featuring the soundtrack of a generation with music from pop royalty including Kylie Minogue (I Should Be So Lucky), Rick Astley (Never Gonna Give You Up), Jason Donovan (Especially for You), Bananarama (Love In The First Degree) and more, all intertwined in an original story of love, laughter and last-minute getaways!

Dive deep into a heartwarming and rib-tickling tale of Ella and Nathan – a star-crossed couple with wedding jitters and tropical dreams. Will their love sail smoothly, or are stormy break-ups ahead? Only time and tunes will tell.

For more about ‘I Should Be So Lucky’ along with details about venues, dates and times of performances do visit the shows website - https://soluckymusical.com


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The UK regulator Ofcom has published new guidelines around the provision of audio description for TV.

This also compliments new legal regulations, Media Bill, which is making its way through Parliament.

RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell spoke to Helen Shaw, from Ofcom, and John Paton, from RNIB, to discuss the changes.

If you'd like more info on audio description, go to www.rnib.org.uk or call the Helpline on 0303 123 9999.

#RNIBConnect

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Each month, RNIB Connect Radio's Allan Russell is joined by some of the RNIB Campaigns Team to discuss some of the big projects they’re involved in and ask for your input to bring positive change to the lives of blind and partially sighted people, throughout the UK. 

This month’s topics include accessible voting and making streets safer and easier to navigate. 

If you’d like more information on campaigns or want to get involved, email campaigns@rnib.org.uk 

Visit rnib.org.uk/news or call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 

If you like your socials, follow @RNIB_Campaigns on Twitter for campaign specific updates. 

#RNIBConnect 
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RNIB is calling on the government to provide better funding for young people in education with sight loss. Hywel Davies has been hearing about the latest education report from England.

You can read more about RNIB's Freedom of Information Reports here: Freedom of Information Reports | RNIB