The Volyn Museum of Local Lore together with the Regional Museum of Stalova Wola presented a joint exhibition as part of the Ukrainian-Polish project "Border Museums - a space for intercultural dialogue", which is being implemented with the financial support of the European Union as part of the Poland-Belarus-Ukraine Cross-Border Cooperation Program 2014-2020 of the European Instrument Neighbourhood.
The presentation was attended by partners, representatives of the regional council, media professionals and art connoisseurs, including people with disabilities. Porcelain products dating from the 19th and 20th centuries could not only be seen, but also felt with the help of typhographic (relief) images, information about the exhibits could be obtained from Braille inscriptions or heard using a QR code. The guide's narration was also adapted to the needs of the blind.
Improving accessibility to the museum for people with special needs is one of the key goals of the Ukrainian-Polish project. The Volyn museum workers took this experience from their colleagues from the city of Stalyovo Volya, said Oksana Vazhatko, director of the Regional Museum of Local History. The exhibition hall of the local history museum was also renovated with the funds of the European Union, specialized equipment for exhibit display was purchased, sound beacons were installed.
Anetta Garanta, director of the Stalova Vola Regional Museum, also congratulated those present through a video message. She talked about her museum, the presented part of the exposition, and also expressed confidence that soon Ukraine and Poland will be able to freely exchange both collections and tourists.
The head of the non-governmental organization of the blind «Generation of Successful Action», Vitaliy Tkachuk, who was involved in the organization of the inclusive exhibition as a consultant, highly appreciated the efforts of Volyn museum workers in creating conditions for access of people with disabilities to the cultural and artistic environment. He expressed his readiness to continue helping to develop this direction.