Working aid for project sponsors of the Regional Culture Programme NRW

Published by MKW NRW (Ref. 425) together with kubia / IBK eV, Cologne

Project sponsors and those who want to become project sponsors will find a tool here for the barrier-free/barrier-free design of cultural projects and events as well as a glossary on accessibility.

The work aid and the glossary are available as PDF files.

Definition Barrierefreiheit

"Structural and other facilities, means of transport, technical consumer goods, information processing systems, acoustic and visual information sources and communication facilities, as well as other designed areas of life, are considered barrier-free if they can be found, accessed, and used by people with disabilities in the usual way, without particular difficulty, and generally without outside assistance. The use of aids necessary due to the disability is permitted." (Section 4 of the Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities Act – BGG)


Accessibility makes participation possible for people with disabilities.

Accessibility can refer to the audience, but also to artistic production when artists with disabilities are involved. The integration of artistic expressions and perspectives of people with disabilities into the program also plays an important role.

Subordinate accessibility refers to accompanying measures to enable people with disabilities to participate in a cultural event (e.g. through subtitles or audio description).

With integrated accessibility, accessibility measures are integrated directly into art and artistic production (Aesthetics of Access).

General tips on how to proceed

In practice, it's often impossible to make everything completely accessible. But every measure taken helps and is a step in the right direction!

Start your accessibility planning as early as possible and involve those affected from the outset.

Approach your planning with realistic expectations.

A systematic approach to accessibility is better than a piecemeal approach.


There are different forms of disabilities that can be referred to the following categories:

  •  Movement / Mobility / Body Awareness
  •  Listening
  •  See
  •  Cognitive understanding
  •  Psychological sensation

The categories can be further subdivided. For example, people with hearing impairments include deaf people, hard of hearing people, or people with distorted hearing.

Decide in which specific category you want to remove barriers (e.g., first for people with hearing loss and then for deaf people?). Find out about the disabilities. It's best to contact people with disabilities or associations to learn more about the disability and the accessibility needs.

Clarify what the specific barriers to attending your cultural event are and how they can best be eliminated.

If possible, consider the entire service chain and ask where the barriers arise, for example for people with hearing impairments:

  • Public relations (website, flyers, program booklet, social media, etc.)
  • Ticketing
  • Venue architecture
  • Sanitary facilities and catering
  • The event itself (concert, theater performance, exhibition, etc.)
  • The service staff
  • Security measures
  • Is your event location easily and safely accessible?

And otherwise:

  • Determine the costs for the planned accessibility measures. This includes planning costs, reimbursements for participating associations, and costs for accessibility service providers. Create a timeline and action plan and set priorities.
  • If necessary, involve service providers with the appropriate expertise in the planning and implementation.
  • Publish and communicate what is (and isn't) accessible in your cultural project. What support options do you offer (e.g., wheelchair space, sign language translation, audio description, assistance)?
  • This information provides an important basis for people with disabilities to decide whether they want and can participate in the cultural event. Actively address the different visitor groups. Make it as easy as possible for potential visitors to obtain information about your offerings.
  • Some things have to get around before they are accepted.
  • Evaluate your experiences. What worked well, what didn't?


Further information to make projects as accessible as possible:

  • Aktion Mensch: Making events accessible: Link
  • Aktion Mensch: Checklist - How to make your event accessible (4 pages). Link
  • Federal Office for Accessibility: Checklist for accessible events: Link
  • BKB Federal Competence Center for Accessibility: Handbook and Checklist for Accessible Events (published in 2012; comprehensive handbook on the topic on a total of 85 pages): Link to PDF download
  • Handbook for the Planning and Implementation of Accessibility in Youth and Cultural Institutions, published by the Saxony State Association for Socioculture (2013), 62 pages; specifically for cultural institutions: Link to PDF download
  • Pictograms on accessibility can be downloaded free of charge from the following website: Link
  • Information about a labelling system for buildings and tourism offers: Link
  • Logos about sign language and easy language can be found at: Link