Description
The project is an international cultural exchange aimed at finding innovative solutions to make culture accessible to people with visual impairments by using audio description. The experience so far in the scope of addressing barriers in the broad access to culture, gained by institutions and specialists engaged in the project, has been the basis of the Polish-Icelandic partnership. The mutually shared vision within the partnership on professional film, artistic, theatre and educational activities, adjusted to the needs of persons with visual impairment, has determined the direction of the cooperation. All activities realized within the project-workshops, concerts, film projections, theatre shows, conferences and meetings-are aimed at gearing up peoples’ access to culture and are freely accessible. The planned events will be attended by over 10,000 direct participants from Poland and Iceland.
Summary of project results
In Poland and Iceland the exclusion of the disabled people from the participation in the social and cultural life is caused by the lack of awareness and lack of skills in adapting the communication and participation to the different physical disabilities – especially in the field of integration wise culture. Granting the access to the culture for the blind is limited to their associations. There is an urgent need of making the society aware of audio description and a need for sharing of the expert knowledge about its use. An international project is designed for a broad audience Polish and Icelandic and for the needs of different age groups through the use of family forms, workshops for children, teenagers and adults, meetings, exhibitions and concerts. Free participation and support (transport, food, accommodation) will let to for participation in the events of communities with high risk of exclusion due to age, disability or economic and social differences. Effects of the actions: increase of cultural awareness popularize the knowledge of cultural heritage and artistic diversity of Poland and Iceland specialized knowledge about audio description well trained further specialists in this field integration of sighted and blind through the common participation in arts events strengthen the social integration of blind people, create "friendly places" for the blind by enhancing cultural offer tailored to their needs
Summary of bilateral results
Joint development and implementation of diverse and enriched with audio description for the film (screenings, meetings, workshops, film and animation), fine arts (exhibitions, meetings), theater (performances, workshops) and education (special workshops to create audio description) increased participation in culture, the development of new cultural competence and to strengthen bilateral relationsbetween the Polish and Iceland, which were united in a common goal: to promote the culture of audio description. The project created a platform to share expertise, exchange of experience, presenting Polish achievements in the field of audio description and Iceland's strategy to support the artistic development of people with disabilities and provided a free offer, integration, forming an open attitude and creative thinking activities, resulting in activation and social inclusion of people with disabilities, their families and organizations uniting them. Partnership with the center of Paradise bio film, theater Gaflaraleikhúsið, art school Myndlistaskólinn í Reykjavík, and cooperation with the association for the blind BIOVI, the festival promotes artistic creativity of the disabled List án landamæra, a union of independent scientists and interdisciplinary research center ReykjavíkurAkademíunnar and the General Consul of Poland in Reykjavik enable multidimensional development and cooperation aimed at promoting the idea ofa common universal access to participation in culture. The proposal of these activities was derived from changes in both social awareness,cultural understanding and perception of the man as a unique and unrepeatable.