About BMAG
The Balkan Museums Access Group (BMAG) is a permanent working group of the Balkan Museum Network committed to increasing accessibility of museums for everyone, especially for people with disabilities.
BMAG is a peer-learning group of individuals, constantly learning and putting social model of disability into daily museum practices since 2015.
BMAG has experience and accessibility knowledge to implementing accessibility features in museums and as of late 2017, BMAG started conducting accessibility surveys in museum, in order to identify, prioritize and remove barriers.
BMAG has been recognized as an innovative practice by the The Zero Project, an initiative of the Essl Foundation that focuses on the rights of persons with disabilities globally.
How does the BMAG work?
The learning is streamlined from an individual to the institutional level. The museums are motivated to include disabled people by providing examples of successful accessible museum practices. Sharing among colleagues is crucial for learning.
Impact created
Museums have opened up, embracing disabled people as partners and experts and revising their approaches to planning and strategy. Through the Small Grant Scheme the BMN has funded museums to improve accessibility and develop accessible and inclusive programs.
Success factors
Reducing isolation, having more information about activities of museums in wider Balkan region inspires others for new activities, new partnerships and participation in international projects.
Improving Access Services (BMAG transformative Services)
Helping museums become more accessible for disabled people is the strategic focus of BMN. As of late 2017, BMAG started conducting accessibility surveys in museums in the Balkan region, to identify, prioritize and remove barriers, thereby, increasing accessibility in each museum that applied to be the venue of access survey had a privilege to host BMAG in a mission to survey, identify and propose actions to reduce barriers. The result of the survey is a report and an overview of the current situation with recommendations for the improvements.
BMAG offers other professional services and assistance to member/or non-member museums of the Balkan Museum Network, such as:
1. Training and Mentoring
2. Access survey
3. Consultancies in writing project proposals or in the policy making process)
4. Practical solutions for exhibitions, educational programs, etc.
5. Networking
6. Policy Making (access/disability polices)
