Accessibility and reception studies at the Macerata Opera Festival

Abstract This essay discusses an audience reception study carried out within the framework of media accessibility to evaluate the experience of blind/partially sighted patrons and their (sighted) accompanying persons in the context of the Macerata Opera Festival (MOF). Adopting a qualitative analytical approach, feedback was collected from individuals in the sample who completed post-hoc self-report questionnaires, and three interdependent variables were measured: (a) comprehension and recall, (b) cognitive load, and (c) psychological immersion. This qualitative analysis was combined with a descriptive methodology, using attitudinal data to evaluate the lived experience of individuals, notably their appreciation and preferences. Results revealed that there was no substantial divergence in the values of the variables recorded for the two groups in the sample: blind/partially sighted and sighted (accompanying) patrons. Additionally, audio descriptions and tactile tours increased psychological immersion, without provoking cognitive overload. Furthermore, high levels of appreciation and preferences were related to comprehension and recall, cognitive load, and psychological immersion. This confirms the effectiveness of audio descriptions and tactile tours in enhancing the engagement and empowerment of blind/partially sighted members of the audience.