The project “Touching Heritage at the Museum of Mitrovica” was created to enhance accessibility for visually impaired individuals at the Museum of Mitrovica. With visually impaired visitors often being among the most marginalized groups, this initiative aimed to create an inclusive museum experience by introducing Braille narratives for museum exhibits and guides.

Supported by the Balkan Museum Network, the project involved collaboration between the Museum of Mitrovica, Dhemetra Foundation, the Association of the Blind (Prishtina and Mitrovica branches), and the School for the Blind “Xheladin Deda” in Peja.

The objectives of the “Touching Heritage at the Museum of Mitrovica” project were to improve accessibility at the museum through the installation of Braille narratives, raise awareness about the importance of social inclusiveness in cultural institutions, engage the blind community of Kosovo in meaningful cultural heritage experiences, and promote the project’s initiatives through effective social media campaigns to encourage broader community support and understanding.

The project integrated Braille narratives into both the museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions, ensuring that visually impaired visitors could explore the rich cultural heritage collections of the Mitrovica region. The museum collaborated with Braille translation experts to ensure accuracy and relevance in all exhibits, and also translated museum guides into Braille in the two official city languages, Albanian and Serbian.

As part of the project, the Museum of Mitrovica organized group visits for the visually impaired community, including participants from the “Xheladin Deda” School for the Blind and the wider blind community across Kosovo. A workshop was held with museum staff and the school’s staff, allowing students to reproduce archaeological figurines, ethnological dishes, and more.

Each section of the museum now features designated areas where Braille descriptions provide a tactile experience of the exhibits, fostering greater inclusion and participation in cultural heritage.

A significant aspect of the “Touching Heritage at the Museum of Mitrovica” project was the launch of a social media campaign to raise public awareness about the importance of accessibility in cultural institutions. The campaign used visually appealing posters, event photos, and local media coverage to engage the community and raise awareness about the challenges faced by the visually impaired.

The project was supported by the Balkan Museum Network, which highlights the successful implementation of Braille narratives and the positive engagement of the visually impaired community in Mitrovica’s cultural experiences.

Written by:

Nora Prekazi Hoti (Director of the Museum of Mitrovica)
Fitore Bala Bucaliu (Director of Dhemetra Foundation)