Despite growing policy commitments and initiatives to improve accessibility, significant barriers still prevent many people with disabilities from fully participating in cultural life. Addressing this gap was the focus of the online workshop “Disability & Inclusion: Where Do We Stand Today?”, organised in Greece by ARTIT on 24 March 2026.
KMOP Policy Centre actively contributed to the discussion, sharing research insights and practical approaches to advancing cultural accessibility across Europe. The event brought together 58 stakeholders from across Greece, including representatives from civil society organisations, cultural institutions, academia, and the wider public, creating a space for dialogue on current challenges and opportunities in the field of disability inclusion.
During the workshop, the KMOP Policy Centre, represented by Afroditi Azari, Senior Project Manager, highlighted the need to make cultural spaces more accessible, drawing attention to the persistent gap between accessibility policies and their implementation in practice.
Building on comparative research conducted in eight European regions, as part of the OpenRegioCulture project, the KMOP Policy Centre shared key insights on existing policy frameworks, stakeholder engagement, and the barriers cultural institutions face in becoming more inclusive.
Among the key findings presented were:
- A persistent gap between policy design and the real-life accessibility experiences of people with disabilities
- A strong focus on physical accessibility, while sensory, cognitive, and digital accessibility often receive less attention
- Limited resources and a lack of specialised training are major barriers for cultural institutions seeking to improve accessibility
- The need for stronger involvement of people with disabilities in decision-making processes
By sharing these findings and engaging with stakeholders across Greece, KMOP Policy Centre contributed to strengthening dialogue on cultural accessibility and inclusion, supporting ongoing efforts to make cultural participation more accessible, equitable, and inclusive for everyone.
The findings presented are part of the OpenRegioCulture project, implemented under the Interreg Europe programme, through which KMOP Policy Centre supports the development of more inclusive cultural policies and practices.
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