The Museum Foundation of the Macedonian Struggle and Modern History of Macedonia presents the initiative: “A Multilingual Story at the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle”

Guided Tour and Accessible Workshops for Hearing and Deaf/Hard of Hearing Children

The Museum’s new educational initiative, “A Multilingual Story at the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle,” is an initiative aimed at promoting universal accessibility and inclusion in culture. Through experiential, interactive workshops, the program offers the opportunity for both hearing and deaf/hard of hearing children to explore the Modern History of Macedonia, collaborate, and express themselves creatively without exclusion. At the end of the program, participants will collectively create an innovative accessible narrative video, which will serve as an educational and entertainment tool created by children… for children!

The workshops are designed for hearing and deaf/hard of hearing children and teenagers aged 10 to 15 and focus on the use of Greek Sign Language (GSL) as a tool for equal participation and learning history.

The initiative is supported financially and under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture*, in collaboration with the Greek Sign Language Center and Inclusive Lines, which specializes in designing accessible educational programs.

Program Description and Methodology

The need for accessibility in every form of culture is great, as individuals with disabilities face exclusion from the social inclusion offered by cultural resources. The inclusion of the deaf/hard of hearing community in culture is a critical need, as they often face complete exclusion, such as from historical books and texts, due to the lack of such materials in their native language, which is Greek Sign Language (GSL).

Through the workshops, participants will familiarize themselves with the space and uniqueness of a historical museum, learn about the modern history of Macedonia, be inspired, express themselves freely, collaborate, interact, and ultimately co-create a new accessible historical video by children for children. Emphasis will be placed on Greek Sign Language as a new language, which we can all learn simple concepts of, making cultural spaces more accessible.

The workshops are based on the principles of Museum Pedagogy, universal access to culture, and follow the methods of experiential learning, creative-design thinking, and 21st-century history education.

Action Program

Museum Guided Tour in GSL
November 30, 2024, 11:00 – 12:30 for children and parents

An accessible interactive tour with sign language interpretation will provide a unique experience of inclusion and collaboration for visitors of the MMA and the staff. All participants will enhance their cultural education and come closer to the world of cultural heritage. We focus on people and promote acceptance of diversity from childhood, inspired by modern culture and history. This activity will be aimed at children and their families, both with and without hearing disabilities.

Workshop “Sign Language through Emotions”
December 7, 2024, 11:00 – 12:30 for children

Through the visualization of history, making historical information accessible to all, and with sign language interpretation. Historical information is visualized and helps us analyze history through the lens of emotions. The goal is to create a safe environment within the museum where hearing and deaf/hard of hearing children will better understand the modern history of Macedonia, play as an equal group without exclusions.

Workshop “Inclusion and Subtitles”
January 11, 2025, 11:00 – 12:30 for children

The final action aims to enrich the produced video with subtitles, while simultaneously creating an interactive and educational activity for children. An introduction to the principles and rules of accessible subtitles for cultural heritage in a simple and understandable way. All participants will enhance their cultural and technological education and come closer to the world of cultural heritage.

Participation Registration

Each workshop can accommodate up to 15 participants, and the tour up to 25 people. To register, please complete the corresponding form.

Form for Participation in the Museum Guided Tour in GSL
Form for Participation in the Workshops

For more information, please contact IMMA by phone at 2310 229 778. All activities will take place at the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle (Proxenou Koromila 23, Thessaloniki).

The project is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture, as part of the Ministry’s Call for Expressions of Interest for grants and/or sponsorships for Museums and Collections of Modern Culture for the year 2024.