The project “Disabled People in museums” will be implemented in B&H aiming to increase the accessibility of museums for the disabled people and to enable their participation in the museum activities.A lso the project will strengthen the connections between museums and associations of disabled people, as the basis for more long-term cooperation. The project will engage a high number of museum, heritage practitioners, representatives of non-governmental sector, artists and disabled people. Five practical workshops that will be held through out of B&H (in the towns of Banja Luka, Mostar, Sarajevo, Tuzla and Zenica) in 2014 and 2015.

The first workshop is scheduled to take place in Mostar from 15 to 17 October in the premises of “The Public Institution Museum of Herzegovina “. During this three-day workshop, participants will learn more about the social model of disability and the ways in which museums can increase the accessibility of their premises. Also some positive examples of museum projects that were implemented through the Balkan Museum Network will be presented and an introduction to the “Disability – Toolkit” will be made. The practical part of the workshop, will enable participants to learn about the mechanism and tools of production of the tactile images as well as their potential and possible use in the museums.

After the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to become a member of BMN and be invited to take part in the future activities that the Balkan Museum Network and the Foundation Cultural Heritage without Borders.

This project is funded by the United States Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

The first workshop was held in the premises of the public institution Museum of Herzegovina in Mostar in the period 15-17 October 2014. Museum and gallery representatives, disabled people, representatives of NGOs and artists as the participants from Trebinje, Livno, Mostar, Konjic and Stolac took part in the workshop. Tatjana Mijatovic, member of the Balkan Museums Access Group led the workshop. During the workshop participants heard about the projects implemented by museums in the last 6 years in the Balkans was made. Working in groups, participants were acquainted with the questionnaire to assess the accessibility of museums. Pictures from the workshop can be seen at CHwBiH Facebook page.