OpenRegioCulture

Co-creation of environment for accessibility of cultural resources for people with disabilities and varied needs

An initiative fostering equal access to cultural and natural sites

GA number: 02C0467

Funded by: INTERREG Europe      Duration: 31/03/2024-29/06/2028


Challenge

According to Eurostat estimates (2023), approximately 100 million people in the EU live with some form of disability, meaning nearly one-sixth of the population faces unequal opportunities compared to others. Ensuring equal access to all spaces, including participation in cultural life, is therefore essential. Cultural and tourism destinations should be designed to accommodate the varied needs of people with disabilities, promoting inclusivity and enriching the experiences available to all.

Innovation

OpenRegioCulture aims to enhance the implementation of regional development policies to improve the accessibility of cultural and natural resources for people with disabilities and varied needs. The initiative is based on a shared understanding of culture as a platform for social inclusion, promoting experience exchange and mutual learning.

Action

A comprehensive methodology will be developed to assess the accessibility of cultural and natural resources for individuals with disabilities and varied needs. This methodology will gather input from a wide range of stakeholders and produce a detailed Mapping Report for regional stakeholders, enabling them to identify the strengths and weaknesses of existing accessibility solutions.

Interregional study visits and workshops will promote mutual learning in the implementation of inclusive policies. A report, along with capacity-building guidelines for cultural and tourism organizations, will be developed to facilitate the transfer of new solutions to each respective region.

A total of 24 evaluated, transferable practices for ensuring equal access to cultural and natural sites will be included in a report that addresses relevant policy instruments for meaningful policy impact on the access of people with disabilities and varied needs to these resources.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or INTERREG Europe. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Project Partners

KMOP Policy Center, Belgium
Małopolska Region, Poland
(Coordinator)
Małopolska Institute of Culture in Krakow, Poland
Maramures County Council, Romania
Hajdú-Bihar County Government, Hungary
Region of Sterea Ellada, Greece
Collectivity of Corsica, France
Visit Zuid-Limburg, Netherlands
Riga Planning Region, Latvia
KulturRegion FrankfurtRheinMain, Germany

 

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