Italy Launches National Training Plan for Cultural Accessibility

The Italian Ministry of Culture, through its General Directorate for Museums, has launched Personeper, a national training plan for accessibility in cultural venues. With a budget of €1,085,000 from the PNRR Cultura 4.0 fund, the initiative aims to train staff across museums, archives, libraries, archaeological parks, and cultural institutions. The plan is curated by the National School for Cultural Heritage and Activities and targets 1,500 participants over one year, offering over 600 hours of training with 180 instructors. It includes online courses and in-person activities across Italy, such as at the Museo Egizio in Turin, MACRO in Rome, and the MAXXI L'Aquila. Study visits to Portugal and Finland are also planned. The project is coordinated by Martina De Luca and Andrea Sardo, with a steering committee. It emphasizes removing physical, sensory, and cognitive barriers, and aims to shift the paradigm from accommodating differences to embracing diversity as an opportunity for all. Only 30% of Italians visit museums, compared to a European average of 40%. Participants will receive an Open Badge. The plan also includes a digital platform, three new Quaderni publications, and research on accessibility.