Cultural accessibility as a multidimensional condition for a real sharing of cultural heritage

Conservation, protection and transmission of heritage over time require above all that its value be shared. Current world events often show us how it is precisely this universal value that is being questioned today. But Heritage cannot have a universal value if it is not, in the strict sense of the word, accessible to all. For many years “accessibility" has been relegated to pure physical matters, further limited to mobility impaired people. Over time, other physical disabilities have also been taken into account, but more recently accessibility barriers have come to be considered much more pervasive and often even invisible to the inattentive eye. They consist primarily of cognitive barriers, but have finally led to cultural ones. The sharing of cultural contents therefore becomes a fundamental condition for the appreciation of cultural heritage as belonging to all: this renewed sensitivity has already been recalled in the principles and contents of the Faro Convention. In recent years, the attention of primary institutions at national and international level has finally turned to these aspects. This paper aims to take stock of the situation with respect to these issues and presents good practices and case studies that show an increased sensitivity, although these are quite isolated cases. Finally, it also aims to stimulate a deeper reflection on a really inclusive approach to Heritage accessibility, focusing in particular on cultural accessibility to content.