Baluji Music Foundation launches 'Blind to the Facts' survey

Arts charity the Baluji Music Foundation (BMF) has this month launched its Blind to the Facts survey aiming to highlight the challenges facing challenges blind and visually impaired people in the UK music industry and boost inclusion.

Conducted by BMF research fellow Dr Claire Castle and Dr David Baker of the University of London Institute of Education, the survey aims to gather data to give an accurate picture of the issues facing blind and visually impaired people in the music sector and develop and understanding of the steps needed to drive inclusion.

Dr Castle said: ‘This project is a really exciting opportunity to ensure equal opportunities in music, regardless of disability or impairment. We need feedback from both those who employ musicians in the UK, and musicians themselves. By sharing their experiences, these individuals will highlight how the industry can do better in its employment, support and encouragement of blind and partially sighted professionals across all areas of the music industry.’

The 2023 survey builds on research undertaken in 1995, which led to the initial establishment of BDF with the aim of programming and promoting events featuring blind and partially sighted musicians and advancing access to musical and artistic experiences for this community. The research also prompted the founding of the Inner Vision Orchestra, the only orchestra of professional blind musicians in the UK.

Indian multi-instrumentalist Baluji Shrivastav OBE, who created the foundation, was himself was blinded at eight months old. He said: ‘I have lost jobs or been made to feel that including me on a tour would be an inconvenience because of my blindness - the music doesn’t even come into it. The point of this survey and what we’re trying to do with the BMF is to find out why, and remove these pointless obstacles - not just for musicians but for promoters, sound technicians, composers etc - and create opportunities across the whole UK music industry.’

The survey is now open to responses and will remain available to submit to until 3 April and can be completed online or over the phone.