International two day conference around access and inclusion took place in the Holocaust Memorial Center for the Jews in Macedonia on 20 – 21 June 2018, gathering 40 museum professionals and disabled people from more than 20 towns of the Balkans. “Balkan Museums without Barriers #2″ conference served as a platform for exchange of knowledge and experiences about the work of museum and cultural institution with d/Deaf and disabled people. Speakers at the conference were Rachel Gadsden and Anna Yanina. Practical workshops that were organised were facilitated by the following experts Diana Walters “Dementia Friendly”; Rachel Gadsden “Creative Expression”; Tatjana Mjatovic “3d printing and impact of technology”; Artemis Stamatelou and Irena Ruzin “Access Audits”; Michele Tylor “Social Mode of Disability. The participants also had opportunity to interact in the small group conversations around the topic “Ways in which museums can engage meaningfully with disabled people”. Other conference sessions included the posted presentations and a presentation by Milena Milosevic Micic “BMAG achievements up to date”. The aspects of the event that were highlighted as the most useful about the conference were practical workshops and the exchange of ideas and experiences; Presentation of different approaches to accessibility and working with disabled people; Practical work and practical examples during the workshops.
The event was implemented as a part of the project “Crafting Access” financially supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
Balkan Museums without Barriers #2 was a true festival and celebration of creativity around the ways museums can co-produce their activities with disabled people.