Who Are the Speakers of Part 1 of the Webinar Series?

INCLUSION IN MUSEUMS: PRESENTATION OF BEST PRACTICES

In an era where cultural institutions are becoming more inclusive, this webinar offers a unique opportunity to hear from experts who are leading the charge in making museums more accessible for all audiences. From sensory-friendly exhibitions to remote engagement strategies, the speakers will showcase innovative and cost-effective approaches to inclusivity that can be implemented in museums worldwide.

The Program of the First Part // 28 February 2025, 13:00–15:00 CET

The first session of the webinar will feature museum professionals and experts in the field who have developed and implemented innovative strategies to foster inclusion in cultural institutions. Some presenters will discuss their articles published in the collection “Inclusion in Museums: A Collection of Best Practices,” while others will share their practical experiences and insights on advancing accessibility and inclusivity in museums. Each presentation will be allocated 10 minutes, followed by 5 minutes for questions.

WATCH THE RECORDING OF THE PRESENTATIONS HERE.

Agenda

The detailed agenda of the webinar can be viewed below:

Featured Presentations and Speakers

Are Balkan Museums Accessible? Self-Determination of Persons with Disability or Just Another Declaration

Irena Ružin, Milena Milošević Micić will discuss the transformation of attitudes toward inclusivity and the current environment in the Balkans, as well as the primary legal framework, which the authors consider only partially guides change, the paper explores various GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives and museums) initiatives for inclusion. Recognized diverse approaches to accessibility, from tactile exhibitions to digital innovations, have demonstrated “commendable progress by numerous institutions.

Irena Ružin is a proud Steering Board member of the Balkan Museum Network, Balkan Museum Access Group and other professional bodies. She has worked in the National Institution Institute and Museum Bitola, Macedonia, for more than 30 years. Her professional work is mainly focused on managing inter- national and national projects, museum marketing and cultural heritage education. Irena is involved in many international projects related to cultural tourism and tourism development strategies. She has shared fer knowledge, gained from many international trainings, specializations and study visits, with her colleagues from the Balkans. Several years ago she started to implement accessibility and inclusion projects in museums and cultural heritage sites in the Balkans. Irena is an active member of several international professional associations and boards and has participated in many international conferences and symposiums. Irena has won several international and national awards.

Milena Milošević Micić works as a museum advisor at the Homeland Museum of Knjaževac. For more than 20 years, she has been a dedicated activist, curator, educator, PR, project manager, and acting director of the museum in two mandates, with the main goal of developing a new role for the museum in the local community. She believes that museums are public spaces open for everyone, forums for open dialogues or debates, and places of unique values of common heritage. Her fields of expertise include museum studies, collection management, re-organization of the museum storages, access & inclusion, marketing in culture, cultural & educational tourism, heritage interpretation etc. She is also a member of ICOM, SMА, BMN, BMAG, AAM, AAMC, Interpret Europe, Bridging Ages and was awarded by the ICOM’s National Committee of Serbia, as the best museum professional in Serbia in 2021. She is a licensed heritage interpreter (Interpret Europe) and a tourist guide.

Designing Inclusive Museum Exhibitions: A Cost-Effective Approach to Sensory Accessibility

Irena Ružin and Jove Pargovski will explore strategies for creating exhibitions that cater to the sensory needs of diverse visitors, including those with disabilities. Drawing from their work in the Balkans, they will discuss affordable and creative ways to integrate tactile, auditory, and visual elements into museum displays, enhancing accessibility for everyone.

Irena Ružin is a seasoned museum professional with over 30 years of experience, specializing in museum marketing, cultural tourism, and heritage education. She is an advocate for accessibility and inclusion in museums and cultural heritage sites across the Balkans.

Jove Pargovski is an expert in museum exhibitions and digital media, focusing on accessibility solutions that integrate cultural heritage with modern technology.

Fostering Remote Inclusion at the National Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina During and After the Pandemic

Aida Šarac Berbić will share her experience working with the National Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina to implement remote inclusion strategies during the pandemic. Using the digital assistive technology ARTsee, she helped bridge the gap for children with intellectual disabilities. Aida will reflect on the benefits and challenges of using digital tools to enhance museum accessibility, offering valuable insights into adapting to a post-pandemic world.

Aida Šarac Berbić is a museum pedagogue with a passion for democratizing access to art and museums. She has dedicated her career to developing accessibility initiatives for people with developmental disabilities and has contributed to several scientific publications on museum pedagogy and inclusivity.

A Museum for All: Experiences of the Gallery of Matica Srpska in Implementation of the “Uroš Predić for Everyone” Project

Ivana Rastović and Jelena Bobić will present the “Uroš Predić for Everyone” project, which aims to make art accessible to a diverse audience, including people with disabilities. Through multisensory exhibitions, sign language tours, and inclusive programs, the Gallery of Matica Srpska has made significant strides in creating an environment where art is truly for everyone.

Ivana Rastović, an art historian and curator at the Gallery of Matica Srpska, has been deeply involved in developing inclusive programs for diverse audiences.

Jelena Bobić, a museum educator at the Gallery, focuses on creating educational programs and workshops that cater to children, youth, and families, promoting inclusivity through creative learning approaches.

Museums for All: Digital and Physical Inclusion Strategies

Çiğdem Aslanta will showcase the Bongo Art Project, an initiative aimed at enhancing museum inclusivity through both digital and physical adaptations. With a focus on cognitive and social accessibility, Çiğdem will discuss how digital tools and physical design can transform museums from static exhibition spaces to dynamic, interactive learning environments.

Çiğdem Aslanta is an interior designer and entrepreneur, founder of Bongo Art Project, a social enterprise dedicated to making museums accessible for everyone. She integrates innovative digital tools with physical adaptations to create more inclusive museum experiences.

Our Souvenir in Your Home – Adults with Disabilities Creating Museum Souvenirs

Katarina Dragin and Dragan Kiurski will focus on the project Our Souvenir in Your Home that trained 25 people (ages 19 to 65) with disabilities to make clay souvenirs. During 10 workshops participants produced over 250 souvenirs (magnets) with motifs from local heritage and organized a humanitarian exhibition that contributed to the increased visibility of people with disabilities in the community. This project contributed to strengthening the capacity of cultural actors through cooperation and networking of three organizations: museum, Terra – Center for Fine and Applied Arts, and the Social Welfare Service Center of the city of Kikinda. The project improved the position of museum as open and inclusive cultural institution that is accessible to people with disabilities. Dragan and Katarina will also present their tactile corner in the museum, which was created with the support of our associate Milena Milošević Micić museum advisor art historian within the project “Making Balkans Museums More Accessible to Persons with Disabilities” supported by the Alumni Small Grants 2021. U.S. Embassy in Serbia.

Dragan Kiurski has been employed as a senior museum educator at the National Museum of Kikinda since 2011. He completed his basic studies at the Faculty of Pedagogy in Sombor in 2004, and his master’s (2018) and doctoral (2024) degrees at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade. He is the author of several museum theater plays; he is the coordinator of the program “Bazaar of Museums and Ideas”; he is the coordinator of the international project “Museums/Galleries and Schools/Kindergartens”; and he is a speaker at a large number of conferences in Serbia and the region. He served as the President of the Section of Museum Educators at the Museum Society of Serbia from 2015 to 2024, coordinated the CECA subcommittee at ICOM Serbia since 2021, and has been a member of the Editorial Board of the ICOM Serbia journal since 2023.

Katarina Dragin is a Specialist in early childhood education, graduated from Preschool Teachers’ Training Collage in Kikinda. Since 2009, she has been employed at National Museum of Kikinda as a technical program organizer-documentarian and from 2020 as a museum educator. Katarina is creating and implementing educational programs for children, youth and adults, caring for library materials and documentation, designing educational materials, participating in the creation and setup of exhibitions, coordinator of several museum projects for youth, creator of Tactile exhibition and Childrens Club in National Museum of Kikinda. She is a member of National Committee of ICOM Serbia (CECA).

This webinar is an incredible opportunity to gain insights from experts who have pioneered inclusion efforts in the museum sector. Whether you’re a museum professional, educator, or simply interested in the future of cultural institutions, you’ll walk away with valuable ideas for making your own museum or gallery more inclusive, accessible, and engaging for all visitors.

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The webinar is part of the SHIFT project (Metamorphosis of Cultural Heritage Into Augmented Hypermedia Assets for Enhanced Accessibility and Inclusion) that is being funded by the European Union Horizon Europe program.

More about SHIFT project on:  https://shift-europe.eu/

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