Monaco's National Museum Promotes Cultural Accessibility for People with Disabilities
A professional awareness session focuses on enhancing cultural mediation tools for disabled individuals.
On March 20, 2025, the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco (NMNM) hosted a professional awareness morning aimed at cultural entities within the Principality to discuss the accessibility of cultural institutions for people with disabilities.
This initiative aligns with the exhibition "AGORA, La place du musée – LAB#3" at Villa Sauber, which highlights public programs and mediation efforts.
The session began with introductions by Benjamin Laugier, Head of Public Services, and Coline Matarazzo, Cultural Coordinator at NMNM.
Lionel Galfré, Technical Advisor for Disability at the Department of Social Affairs and Health, emphasized the government’s commitment to improving the inclusion of individuals with disabilities across the Principality, underscoring that accessibility is a collective responsibility.
Galfré articulated that providing full access to exhibitions encompasses more than just allowing physical entry; it also involves enabling individuals to experience, feel, and understand the artworks irrespective of their sensory, motor, or cognitive abilities.
The awareness session featured representatives from four partner organizations that specialize in various types of disabilities.
Claude Garrandès, President of the Arrimage association, spoke on visual impairments; Luc Denis, General Director of AMAPEI, and Céline L’Hospital, Service Manager, represented mental disabilities; Dr. Frédéric Comparon, Deputy Head and Psychiatrist of the Unit of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology “La Roseraie,” and art therapist Sabrina Mazzola addressed psychiatric disabilities; and Melahat Zorlu discussed auditory disabilities.
Following these presentations, attendees participated in two practical workshops designed to simulate visits tailored for visually impaired and hearing-impaired individuals.
The objective of the morning session was to ensure that cultural venues are adequately prepared to welcome individuals with disabilities, thereby facilitating their access to exhibitions and the appreciation of artworks.
Participants included representatives from the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Monaco Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, Grimaldi Forum, and the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, as well as CFM Indosuez.
The workshops aimed to sensitize cultural actors to the needs of non-visual, hearing-impaired, and individuals experiencing mental or psychological challenges when presenting exhibitions.
This initiative aligns with the exhibition "AGORA, La place du musée – LAB#3" at Villa Sauber, which highlights public programs and mediation efforts.
The session began with introductions by Benjamin Laugier, Head of Public Services, and Coline Matarazzo, Cultural Coordinator at NMNM.
Lionel Galfré, Technical Advisor for Disability at the Department of Social Affairs and Health, emphasized the government’s commitment to improving the inclusion of individuals with disabilities across the Principality, underscoring that accessibility is a collective responsibility.
Galfré articulated that providing full access to exhibitions encompasses more than just allowing physical entry; it also involves enabling individuals to experience, feel, and understand the artworks irrespective of their sensory, motor, or cognitive abilities.
The awareness session featured representatives from four partner organizations that specialize in various types of disabilities.
Claude Garrandès, President of the Arrimage association, spoke on visual impairments; Luc Denis, General Director of AMAPEI, and Céline L’Hospital, Service Manager, represented mental disabilities; Dr. Frédéric Comparon, Deputy Head and Psychiatrist of the Unit of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology “La Roseraie,” and art therapist Sabrina Mazzola addressed psychiatric disabilities; and Melahat Zorlu discussed auditory disabilities.
Following these presentations, attendees participated in two practical workshops designed to simulate visits tailored for visually impaired and hearing-impaired individuals.
The objective of the morning session was to ensure that cultural venues are adequately prepared to welcome individuals with disabilities, thereby facilitating their access to exhibitions and the appreciation of artworks.
Participants included representatives from the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Monaco Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, Grimaldi Forum, and the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, as well as CFM Indosuez.
The workshops aimed to sensitize cultural actors to the needs of non-visual, hearing-impaired, and individuals experiencing mental or psychological challenges when presenting exhibitions.
