Senses in Dialogue: A Participatory Approach to Making the IMMA Collection Accessible
The Foundation of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle and the Modern History of Macedonia (IMMA), in collaboration with Off Stream, a non-profit organisation, conducted a Feasibility Study between September 2025 and February 2026, aiming to ensure equal access to its exhibition content for people with sensory disabilities and to create a cultural space open and accessible to all. This initiative formed part of IMMA’s broader strategy to systematically enhance accessibility and inclusion.
The Study focused on accessibility for people with partial or total vision loss, Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. It was based on the principles of Inclusive Design and Creative Access, combined with Participatory Design methodologies. Following the disability rights movement’s principle of “Nothing about us without us,” the Study was developed with the active involvement of a four-member focus group consisting of people with sensory disabilities, alongside professionals specialising in Greek Sign Language interpretation, Museology, Museum Education and Modern History. This collaborative approach ensured that the proposed solutions address the actual needs of users while also benefiting wider audiences.
The Study has been produced in both print and digital formats, following international accessibility standards. Its recommendations will serve as a guide for designing initiatives and interventions to be implemented gradually over the coming years, in accordance with a strategic plan. IMMA aims to develop solutions that eliminate barriers and ensure the meaningful participation of all individuals in the museum experience, promoting equal access to culture.
The collaboration between IMMA and Off Stream, an organisation with extensive experience in cultural inclusion and accessibility, together with the active participation of people with sensory disabilities in the research team, makes this Study an innovative example of inclusive practice among cultural institutions in Greece. The initiative Senses in Dialogue: A Participatory Approach to Making the IMMA Collection Accessible places IMMA among the museum organisations that systematically and strategically invest in long-term accessibility policies, creating new bridges of communication with their audiences.
The project was implemented with the financial support and under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture – Directorate of Modern Cultural Heritage.
Project Team and Contributors
Project Supervision: Stavroula Mavrogeni, Professor at the University of Macedonia, Director of the Centre for Macedonian History and Documentation (KEMIT), IMMA
Supervision, Coordination and Museological Guidance: Athina Pavlidou, Philologist, Museologist, Cultural Manager, Director of IMMA
Scientific Responsibility: Off Stream
Research, Writing and Editing of the Study: Stella Anastasaki, Art Historian, Co-founder of Off Stream; Christina Vlachou, Cultural Manager, Co-founder of Off Stream
Scientific Support for Museum Accessibility: Chara Kanari, Assistant Professor, School of Early Childhood Education, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Scientific Support for Accessibility for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals and Greek Sign Language Interpretation Services: Spyros Kouzelis, Certified Greek Sign Language Interpreter
Focus Group:
- Matina Dritsa, Philologist, MSc in Special Education, Certified in Greek Sign Language
- Rafailia Kaklimani, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Photographer
- Dora (Dodo) Moirasgenti, Deputy Head of the Secretariat Department, Directorate of Foreign Nationals and Immigration of Thessaloniki, Political Science Student at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
- Fani Tsikoura, Primary School Teacher, MSc in Special Education
Graphic Design and Layout: Mariza Tsakona
Photography: Kostas Evangelidis, Hichem Merouche, Kostas Stylianidis
Financial Support and Auspices: Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Directorate of Modern Cultural Heritage
Media Sponsor: Makedonia Newspaper
