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Towards Inclusive Cultural Spaces: China Hosts Landmark Symposium on Museum Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities
Hohhot, Inner Mongolia - In a significant stride towards cultural inclusivity and accessibility, UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia and the China Museums Association (CMA) co-hosted the Symposium on Museum Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities on 24 August 2024 during the 10th “Museum Expo”.
Museums, as treasure troves of human knowledge and experience, play a pivotal role in preserving cultural heritage and engaging the public with diverse histories and cultures. However, the needs of over 85 million persons with disabilities in China have often been overlooked. The symposium, emphasizing the equal right of all individuals to participate in cultural life, is in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As a flagship event under the project "Accessible Museums for Persons with Disabilities," it falls under a broader programme funded by the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD). The programme stands as a testament to UNESCO's commitment to culture-driven sustainable development, underscoring the importance of a human-centered approach to development that fosters long-lasting mutual respect and dialogue among cultures.
Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, highlighted the critical importance of making museums accessible. “China has over 6,000 museums, of which 90% are free to the public. While some of them are already equipped with basic accessible facilities…, there is an urgent need for continuing actions to ensure that all museums provide adequate access to all groups of audience with different forms of disabilities”, he stated.
Mr. LIU Shuguang, President of the CMA, graced us with an opening address. In his remarks, he emphasized that "museums, as the sanctuaries of human civilization, must extend an equal welcome to all." He underscored that it is our collective duty and aspiration to ensure that persons with disabilities can fully engage with and enjoy the cultural offerings of museums without any barriers.
A keynote speech session focused on international conventions and global best practices was moderated by Ms. ZENG Qingyi, National Professional Officer for Communication and Information at UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia. Distinguished speakers, including Prof. AN Laishun, Vice President of the Chinese Museums Association; Danielle Schulz, Associate Director of Lifelong Learning and Accessibility at the Denver Art Museum; and HE Chuan, Deputy Director of Visually Impaired Culture and Information Center of China, shared insights on inclusive museum accessibility and barrier-free services, the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act to museums, and the role of technology in enhancing access for the visually impaired in cultural domains. “Museum Accessibility means that museums fully create and integrate various resources to help visitors of all kind equally access information and services under any circumstances,” Prof. AN Laishun emphasized.
Followed by two roundtable discussions, 12 experts and scholars from museums, non-profit organizations, and universities at home and abroad discussed the topics of good practices for enhancing museum accessibility in China and guiding principles for improving museum accessibility, touching on the integration of accessibility practices and the importance of early partnerships with disability communities, exploring how to better integrate and enable more persons with disabilities to enjoy museum culture, and thereby further achieving the fundamental goal of museums to serve society and social development.
The symposium closed with the launch of a call for good practices and a symbolic lighting ceremony. Fourteen museums pledged their support to UNESCO’s "Accessible Museums for Persons with Disabilities" project, running from 2024 to 2025. This project seeks to improve inclusive policies and practices, aligning with the UNCRPD and China's Accessibility Law.
Moving forward, with the symposium setting the stage for a more accessible future, China's museums are poised to become models of inclusivity and accessibility, enriching the cultural experience for all visitors and upholding the universal right to cultural participation.
UNESCO’s mandate:
UNESCO contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual understanding and a more perfect knowledge of each other's lives. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the SDGs defined in the 2030 Agenda.
UNPRPD’s introduction:
The UNPRPD, established in 2011, is a unique partnership that brings together UN entities, governments, OPDs and broader civil society to advance the rights of persons with disabilities around the world. This Partnership was created to foster collaboration between its members and complement their work around disability inclusion through UN Joint programming. The Partnership operates through a Multi-Partner Trust Fund established to channel resources for participating UN organizations.