Inclusive museum practices in BiH were presented at the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina on September 24 and 25, 2020 as the final conference of the project “Tinkering and Making for Human Rights – Improving Cultural Participation of Children with Disabilities”.

“Museums around the world are increasingly striving to reprogram and create content that will be tailored to all people equally. In order to ensure accessibility, it is necessary to enable people with disabilities to be included in all areas of life on an equal footing with others, especially in the fields of education, cultural, sports and public activities. In order to ensure respect for human rights, it is necessary to talk about them and put them into practice. ” Said Anida Manko from the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo, Department of Pedagogy.

Participants of this event had the opportunity to listen and discuss important topics that talk about barriers in culture, creating opportunities and accessible information in an inclusive museum environment, and ways to promote activities that take place behind the museum doors. Also, the present museum pedagogues and museum curators from BiH presented their inclusive museum workshops that they are realizing. Renowned experts in this field who shared their experience and knowledge with the participants are Anida Manko M.Sc., from the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo, Department of Pedagogy, who gave a lecture on “The Road to an Inclusive Museum: Obstacles and Opportunities”; Prof. Dr. Emira Švraka addressed the present representatives of the museum on the topic “Socio-economic, information-communication and spatial barriers in culture, for people with psychomotor and sensory difficulties”, and Prof. Dr. Lejla Kafedžić also from the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo, Department of Pedagogy explained with practical examples what “Accessible information in an inclusive museum environment – Easy to read standard”. Communication expert, Aida Mia Alić, M.Sc., shared with the participants a lot of practical advice on how to improve the promotional activities of museums in BiH. Aida Vežić with examples of BMN activities that have increased accessibility of BMN member museums.

Presentations of seven examples of inclusive educational practices in museums described in a publication published by the Balkan Museum Network Association were held on the second day of the conference. Colleagues from 13 museums expressed their satisfaction that in this way the importance of the topic of inclusion in museums is given and that the educational activities of the museum are strengthened. Museums whose representatives participated in the conference are: Museum Kakanj, Museum of Eastern Bosnia Tuzla, Homeland Museum Travnik, Museum of Herzegovina in Trebinje, Homeland Museum Visoko, Historical Museum of BiH, PI Museum of Old Herzegovina, PI Tesanj Museum, Art Gallery of BiH, Zenica City Museum and Museum of Herzegovina in Mostar. These examples have been published in BMN publication “Examples of inclusive museum practices in Bosnia and Herzegovina”.

The project is implemented with the financial support of the US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.