Museo dell’Artigianato Valdostano di tradizione, opened in 2009 in Fénis, exhibits approximately 1000 everyday use artefacts and sculptures telling of the Aosta valley’s past and present. MAV is a mountain museum which gives visitors access to artefacts without too many filters in a straightforward, modern and interactive layout. Objects include ancient and 18th and 19th century artefacts alongside more recent objects to narrate the evolution of arts and crafts through thousands of years of history. The museum contains material culture objects ranging from objects in everyday use (17th-20th centuries) to sculptures (13th to 21st centuries) from public and private collections. All artefacts are unique objects incorporated into the museum’s various themed areas: matter, indoors, outdoors, socialising, poetry and temporary exhibitions.

Since it was set up MAV has worked to tear down barriers and allow all visitors to enjoy the museum space and culture in general. In 2014 the Everyone’s Museums. Museums for Everyone project focusing on the museum contents accessibility theme was set up. This led to a partnership between MAV, the Turin Istituto per Sordi and ENS Valle d’Aosta which generated specific tools designed for deaf visitors:

– museum text simplification and more easily readable script;

– installation of light points of use to interpreters to make the work of guides and Italian Sign Language interpreters easier;

– installation of QR codes which demonstrate artisan techniques and know-how in visual language;

– creation of two Italian Sign Language videos, one presenting the museum and the other explaining a selection of terms relating to Aosta valley craft objects or techniques.