The overall goal of the project was to promote inclusivity and environmental sustainability in the cultural sector by strengthening the capacity of staff members from cultural and inclusive education organizations in Romania, Italy, Spain and Bulgaria to design and implement inclusive and environmentally responsible cultural events. Now, at the conclusion of the project, we can affirm that these needs were directly addressed. Through the development of shared methodologies, training materials with innovative contents and practical governance tools based on real implemented events, we supported cultural organizations in moving from compliance-based thinking to proactive, values-driven implementation. Participants gained clarity on accessibility planning, inclusive communication, environmental impact reduction and long-term monitoring. Most importantly, the project fostered a cultural shift: inclusion and sustainability are no longer perceived as external requirements, but as integral elements of quality cultural programming. By bridging European policy priorities with local practice, we contributed to a more resilient, responsible and socially responsive cultural sector across our partner countries.
During the design process we identified a common challenge across Italy, Romania, Bulgaria and Spain: while the cultural sector plays a vital social and economic role, many organizations lacked the practical capacity to make their events truly inclusive and environmentally sustainable. Although strong frameworks such as the European Disability Strategy 2021–2030 and national accessibility laws were in place, staff members often needed concrete tools and training to translate these principles into everyday practice, particularly regarding participation of persons with disabilities and children with SEN. At the same time, the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy highlighted the potential of cultural events to promote sustainability, yet organizers frequently lacked methods to reduce environmental impact in a structured way. Our project addressed this gap by equipping cultural professionals with practical methodologies, checklists and governance tools. As a result, inclusion and sustainability shifted from being abstract policy goals to becoming integrated, operational elements of cultural event planning and long-term institutional development.