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Dettaglio ravvicinato di un libro con copertina in tessuto grigio chiaro, su cui è ricamato in filo grigio scuro un disegno architettonico astratto composto da linee curve e angolari intrecciate, simile alla pianta o al profilo di un edificio. Il libro è appoggiato in diagonale su un tavolo scuro, sullo sfondo del quale si intravede, sfocato, un plastico architettonico in legno chiaro. Fotografia a colori, in primo piano.
know-how
online

Museum Accessibility as Shared Culture and Collective Practice

    data del corso
    from 7 October to 2 December
    free
    webinars

Training as an opportunity for the exchange of know-how and best practices between Italy and the Adriatic-Balkan region.

The course brings together museum directors and officials from the Adriatic-Balkan region to reflect on museum accessibility as a catalyst for organisational transformation.

The project promotes an approach to accessibility understood not merely as a series of isolated measures, but as a shared culture and collective practice that permeates the museum’s mission, governance, organisation, services and relations with the public.

The Directorate-General for Growth and Promotion of the National Economy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation organises the course, and MAXXI curates it.

Three online sessions, each lasting up to 60 minutes (45 minutes’ presentation + 15 minutes’ Q&A), offering different perspectives on museum accessibility. Each session, not presented in sequential order, covers theoretical topics. The webinars are held in English without interpretation. Participation is free of charge. Please complete the form for the webinar you wish to attend to receive the link by email.

Wednesday 7 October, 3.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Interpretation, Storytelling, and Plurality of Publics
with Vanessa Vaio Heritage Interpretation facilitator

The session introduces heritage interpretation as a tool for museum design and planning, exploring how interpretative choices shape how heritage is presented, understood, and experienced. Participants will explore principles for facilitating heritage interpretation: selecting perspectives, constructing narratives, and creating meaning for different audiences.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Wednesday 4 November, 3.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Accessibility as an Organizational and Cultural Practice
with Maria Chiara Ciaccheri Museum professional and accessibility expert

Rather than approaching accessibility solely through disability or regulatory obligations, the meeting explores a people-centred approach that considers the needs of everyone connected to the organisation, including staff and visitors. Particular attention will be paid to how accessibility can be integrated into day-to-day organisational decisions, so it becomes a shared responsibility rather than the task of a single professional or department.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Wednesday 2 December, 3.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Museums and Agency: The Necessary Transformation
with Simona Bodo museologist, independent researcher and practitioner

Accessibility should not be seen as a compensatory or corrective measure, but as integral to the very purpose of museums. The challenge simply lies in making access more equitable in terms of recognition (of diversity) and redistribution (of power, opportunities and resources). Agency is explored here through four interconnected and complementary dimensions: agency and the redistribution of power; agency and overcoming paternalism; agency and active citizenship; and institutional agency.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

bio

Simona Bodo

Maria Chiara Ciaccheri

Vanessa Vaio

Simona Bodo

A museologist, independent researcher and practitioner with a longstanding interest in the social agency of museums and their role in the development of diverse and inclusive heritage communities. On these issues, she advises both public and private institutions, including the Uffizi Galleries and Pinacoteca di Brera. She is co-founder of the “Patrimonio di Storie” working group, coordinator of the “Patrimonio e Intercultura” programme and website (ISMU Foundation – Initiatives and Studies on Human Mobility), and (co)editor of several publications, including “Il museo necessario” (2023).

Maria Chiara Ciaccheri

A researcher and consultant, she has worked on museum accessibility and participation for over fifteen years, collaborating with museums, archives, and cultural organizations across Italy and abroad on policy, strategy, and organizational change. She is the author of “Museum Accessibility by Design” (Rowman & Littlefield for American Alliance of Museums, 2022) and “Musei e accessibilità” (Editrice Bibliografica, 2024).

Vanessa Vaio

A Heritage Interpretation trainer, advisor, and consultant with over 30 years of experience. She specialises in interpretive master planning, program development, and designing interpretive media for heritage sites. Founder of ViVaio, a consulting firm based in Como, Italy, she leads multidisciplinary teams serving UNESCO sites, museums, parks, historic villas, and ecomuseums. Country Coordinator for Interpret Europe, she is also the author of ‘A Manual for Heritage Interpreters: From Theory to Practice’ (Editrice Bibliografica, 2025). Vanessa is passionate about training and mentoring the next generation of interpretive professionals.