Barriers to cultural participation by people with disabilities in Europe: a study across 28 countries.

This article discusses the findings of a new qualitative study conducted in 28 European countries, examining barriers to cultural participation as perceived by representatives of organisations of people with disabilities. The study explores barriers operating in all art-forms as well as in cultural heritage, and it encompasses participation of people with a broad range of disability types both as audiences and as creators of culture. The article evidences that a range of interlinked barriers are commonly perceived by people with disabilities in five areas – lack of effective laws and policies; inadequate services and/or funding; negative attitudes; lack of accessibility; and lack of involvement of persons with disabilities in cultural organisations. The article argues for more systematic approaches to enforcement of laws and policies, for greater knowledge about disability to be embedded within cultural organisations and policymaking, and for employment of people with disabilities at all levels within cultural sectors. Points of interest: This article presents research on participation by people with disabilities in cultural life (such as theatre, cinema, libraries, etc.) from 28 European countries. This research sought the views of people representing organisations of people with disabilities, of Deaf people and of organisations working on arts and disability. It found that several barriers to participation (as audiences and artists) exist in all countries considered and across all disability types. It identifies and categorises barriers operating in five areas – lack of effective laws and policies; inadequate services and/or funding; negative attitudes; lack of accessibility; and lack of involvement of persons with disabilities in cultural organisations. The research highlights the need for existing laws to be fully applied and enforced, and for good practice, where it exists, to be made more widely known. It also shows that cultural organisations and policy-makers need to acquire greater knowledge about disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]