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© Axel Thuenker DGPh

ICOMOS-ICAHM Conference on Universal Access to open air archaeological sites

2022

What if archaeological sites and parks were accessible to as many people as possible? This question seems obvious, but it is not yet in practice. It is now recognized that everyone should have access to culture, regardless of their social status, cultural background, or mobility possibilities. It is also believed that the process of inclusion brings added value to the institutions that work to implement it. However, for a large part of the population, such as people with disabilities, seniors and young families, it remains extremely difficult to access certain cultural experiences, especially those in open-air archaeological sites, and this all over the world.

The LVR-Archaeological Parc Xanten / LVR-RömerMuseum will host a conference of the ICOMOS/ICAHM working group on accessibility to UNESCO world heritage sites, organized by ArchaeoConcept, from the 11th to the 12th of August 2022. The colloquium will take place in Xanten (Germany) as well as online – with the title “Universal Access to Open-air archaeological sites”. The event is primarily aimed at professionals from the cultural heritage (ICOMOS/ICAHM). However, it is also essential to us that professional audiences from the fields of tourism, nature conservation, and disability participate. The aim is (1) to discuss the definition of handicap and universal access, and the issues of access to archaeological sites and parks, (2) to overview the existing methods for analyzing the situation at cultural heritage facilities. Each session, consisting of four presentations of half an hour, will be followed by a group discussion. These first issues will then be pursued by (3) case studies from throughout the world. After the conference, the authors of the presentations will be asked to publish their papers in a peer-reviewed publication (Springer) on Universal Access to Archaeological Sites and Parks. In addition to this program, a round table for a discussion of the ICOMOS/ICAHM working group’s results on accessibility is planned on Friday, as well as an excursion at the LVR-Archaeological Park Xanten.

Here is the programmeConference programme for screen readersRegistration formHotel reservationInformation brochure for persons with reduced mobility Xanten
Themes
  • UNESCO
  • Tourism
  • International
  • Management
  • Universal Access
Tools
  • Colloquium
  • Lecture
  • Event
Skills
  • Development of know-how
  • Interdisciplinarity
  • Networking
  • Enhancement