“Sensing the Past” was a collaborative and co-produced project involving The Dorset Blind Association, Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, and Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre. The sensory interactive display located in the Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Community Space showcases various aspects of the project, such as online talks, outreach programs, and workshops that took place between October 2021 and April 2023.

During the project, participants engaged in hands-on activities like casting fossils using plaster and clay. They also had the opportunity to embark on a sensory tour of the Natural Dorset gallery at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery. Additionally, they visited Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre where they discovered fossils in gravel trays and explored large tactile replicas of ichthyosaurs, ammonites, as well as different types of seaweed collected from Charmouth.

One of the highlights of the project was when the group designed and crafted a significant sculpture inspired by fossil assemblages – groups of fossils found together within a rock formation. This sculpture was intentionally created to be touched by visitors to enhance their sensory experience during the exhibition. Gravel trays were filled with a diverse selection of Dorset fossils for exploration alongside other interactive elements like an ammonite jigsaw puzzle.

Furthermore, an audio recording by Andy Worth features members of The Dorset Blind sharing their personal experiences with the project both as participants and visually impaired visitors. The overall display is family-friendly, suitable for individuals of all ages, and offers free admission to all visitors who wish to engage with this unique sensory experience