Since 2018, the INKuLtur project has been promoting the inclusion of disabled people through participation in the cultural life of society in different regions of Russia.
DRA e.V. and the Russian partners have developed the project “INKuLtur” to attract attention to the topic of participation in cultural life and increase access to cultural offer for disabled people.
In 2012, Russia ratified the UN Convention on the rights of disabled people, which is directed to equal participation of them in public life. Since then, a number of measures have been taken to create a barrier-free environment. However, most of these measures relate to basic needs, such as social services and infrastructure. The low priority is still given to barrier-free access and an inclusive approach to culture and leisure, that`s why disabled people are excluded from an important area of public life.
In addition to the lack of necessary infrastructure, often ideological barriers and the lack of skills of cultural institutions workers prevent disabled people from participation in cultural life. Uncertainty about the treatment of disabled visitors often leads to inappropriate behaviour or ill-advised remarks that can be extremely hurtful and demotivating. The project “INKuLtur” strives to improve awareness of inclusions issues, social and cultural diversity in order to facilitate the participation of people with disabilities in the cultural life of the community, to help their acceptance and reduce barriers “in their heads”.
How do we do it?
The project offers educational activities in the form of seminars and webinars, oriented to employees of cultural institutions. At seminars and webinars with the involvement of various disabled people and other referents from Russia and Germany participants will get knowledge in particular about the interaction with disabled people, about the development, implementation and implementation of inclusive projects in cultural institutions, as well as exchange, interaction and transfer of best practices.
In addition, the concept of an accessible environment and the creation of inclusive structures in three types of cultural institutions – cinemas, theatres and museums will be developed. The concept will be developed by a Russian-German team of experts from the social sphere, culture and art, science and inclusion. Work on the concept will end with the presentation of” inclusive labels”, which will take into account various aspects of accessibility of cultural institutions.
In addition, a barrier-free Russian website will be created to present inclusive cultural proposals and to share experiences and approaches in the field of inclusion in cultural institutions. It will become an crossregional platform for union and information exchange between disabled people, relatives and stakeholders, activists and experts in the field of inclusion and culture from different regions of Russia and thus support the objectives of the “INKuLtur” project.
News
INKuLtur: a seminar on the development of the concept of an inclusive environment in cultural institutions was held in Russia
On November, the 19 and 20, the first two seminars on the German-Russian project “InKulture” initiated by the German organization DRA e were held in Sverdlovsk region.V. (”German-Russian exchange”), supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Social Policy of the Sverdlovsk region, and directed at increasing the involvement of disabled people in the cultural life of Russian society.
Partners of the “INKuLtur» projects
The main partners of the project in Russia are the socio-pedagogical cultural center “Blagoe delo”, Yekaterinburg and Sverdlovsk region, the society of parents of disabled children with autism “Me and You” in Pskov, as well as the non-profit organization “St. Petersburg cultural practice”, with the participation of the Central exhibition hall Manezh, St. Petersburg.
The project is supported by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
