On Monday, January 16, 2023, at the EU House in Ljubljana, the multiplier event 2 entitled Accessibility of Cultural Heritage for People with Disabilities in Slovenia and in the European Context (Round table/Public tribune)was organized by University of Ljubljana (the Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, Faculty of Arts) and project partner organization the Institute for Advanced Communication Management (INUK Institute) from Maribor.
The aim of the event was to present the results of IOs of the project AccessCULT – Innovative University Teaching Content to Achieve Sustainable Accessibility of Cultural Heritage for ALL. In particular, the focus was on the presentation of the module HEI and the teaching material as well as the e-learning course for adults working in the field of cultural heritage.
The programme was moderated by dr. Alenka Bartulovič, project leader at the University of Ljubljana. The results of IO1 (research report – needs analyses), IO2 (educational module and framework) and especially IO3 (the module and teaching material and IO5, the implementation of the HEI course) were presented by dr. Urša Valič. Mag. Darja Ivanuša Kline, project manager at INUK Institute, presented the results of IO4 (the preparation of adult training, the moodle platform and the IO5 implementation). She also presented the work on IO6 – the recommendation catalog, follow-up opportunities, and the Accessible Museums Ambassadors Network. Vesna Petrič and Tina Mlinarič, students from the Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology (Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana), presented the short-term exchange and student training at Coventry University. MA Tamara Trček Pečak from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design, University of Ljubljana, presented an invitation to a pilot version of an accessible tour in the framework of the exhibition Up close: Preservation, Protection and Conservation- Restoration of Modern and Contemporary Works of Art at the National Museum of Modern Art.
The organizers wanted to enrich the event with Slovenian and European policies in the field of accessibility and cultural heritage. Member of the European Parliament, Dr. Milan Brglez, presented in a video addressing the European Union’s efforts to increase the social inclusion of people with disabilities. The keynote speaker of the event, Mag. Mateja Toman, President of the National Council of Disability Organizations of Slovenia, emphasized the need for implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the need for greater involvement of persons with disabilities in the preparation and implementation of programs and content in the field of cultural heritage as a way to engage persons with disabilities. Vida Koporc Sedej, Secretary in the Cultural Heritage Directorate of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia, presented the efforts and support of the Ministry of Culture to make the cultural heritage of museums and other cultural institutions more accessible. Ana Stanovnik Perčič, Head of Adult Education at CMEPIUS (National Agency), presented to the participants the opportunities for professional development, exchange and education under the program ERASMUS +.
The last part of the event was dedicated to the discussion and presentation of best practices in Slovenia from national to regional institutions, from NGO to GO organizations, from private to public initiatives, but especially cases of people with disabilities organization’s and their engagement in the field of culture in general and cultural heritage in specific, were presented and discussed.
The event was interpreted in the Slovene sign language for deaf people and people users of the Slovene sign language.
We have evidenced 30 eligible participants from different fields of organization: mainly cultural heritage institutions (museums, galleries etc.), organizations of people with disabilities, tourist organizations and others. Most of the people were young professionals at the beginning of their career.