In 2025, the British Council Romania commissioned the Arts and disability in Romania scoping study as part of its wider Disability Arts work, which supports platforms, international collaborations networks and practice development for disabled artists in the UK and globally.
The study builds on the British Council’s already extensive global disability arts work, expanding towards a new, complementary template to the well-established successes of Europe Beyond Access. While focusing on Romania in particular, it also aims to raise productive questions and provide practical recommendations which will resonate with additional countries in the EU and beyond.
The goal of the project was to gather knowledge and insights that will enhance the understanding of the Romanian arts and disability landscape, identify suitable artistic and creative activities that can amplify disabled creativity, promote the development and implementation of the British Council's future arts and disability program in Romania and ultimately increase the accessibility in cultural institutions and events in Romania.
The study was conducted with the support of UK-based specialist consultants: Jonathan Meth, Founder and Director of The Fence international theatre network, lecturer in Arts Management and Cultural Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London, and expert adviser at Ambitious about Autism; and Olga Macrinici, disabled playwright, theatre director, dramaturg, and PhD student at Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon College of Arts, University of the Arts, London.
Local expertise was provided by Ruxandra Mateescu, President and Founder of Supereroi printre noi and Specialist in cultural accessibility and social inclusion, and Iris Popescu, founder and President of AMAIS, Ph.D. Architect, specialised in inclusive design and accessibility of the built environment.
The foreword of the study was written with the contribution of the Ministry of Culture of Romania, reflecting its commitment to supporting the arts and disability sector.
About the study
This scoping study examines the current landscape of arts and disability in Romania and sets out an evidence-based foundation for strengthening cultural participation, representation, and professional pathways for disabled people. Commissioned by the British Council, the study draws on national legislation, international frameworks, and qualitative research undertaken with both disabled and non-disabled artists, cultural practitioners, educators, public authorities, funders, non-governmental organisations, and civil society actors.
The study seeks to understand how disabled people currently experience cultural life in Romania, both as audiences and as creators, and to identify the structural barriers and enabling conditions that shape participation. Three core questions run throughout the report. The first considers how national values, public discourse, and legal frameworks influence disabled people’s visibility and participation in cultural life. The second examines systemic barriers across education, employment, public space, and cultural institutions. The third explores opportunities for coordinated action through capacity building, funding, and European cooperation.
Context and methodology
Romania has a well-established legal framework for disability rights, including constitutional protections, anti-discrimination legislation, and ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2010. However, implementation remains uneven. Nearly one in twenty Romanians is registered as disabled, yet disabled people remain largely absent from mainstream cultural spaces and cultural production. Evidence gathered for this study highlights a persistent gap between legal commitments and lived experience, particularly in relation to access, representation, and sustained professional pathways.
The research underpinning this report is qualitative and exploratory. It draws on seven focus groups held in Bucharest and Timișoara in May 2025, meetings with ministerial and local government representatives, and individual interviews with experts from across Romania. The focus groups were deliberately dialogic, creating space for listening, reflection, and shared sense-making.
The study also presents a diverse series of snapshots highlighting some of the remarkable work taking place across Romania in the arts and disability sector. Together, these snapshots form a vibrant mosaic – spanning art, activism, therapy, allyship, institutions, and individual voices – that adds depth and broadens the overall picture.
'Last month, during the UK experts’ visit to Romania, we held an intense and insightful week of consultations with artists, activists, NGOs, public institutions, cultural spaces, and funders. The conversations were honest, often challenging, and deeply necessary… The field of arts and disability in Romania clearly needs further exploration, not only because inclusive practices are still rare, but also because art and culture remain chronically underfunded sectors. It’s time we ask better questions, have more trust in each other, and create more space for diverse voices and experiences.’ – Iris Popescu
Key insights
- While legal language has increasingly aligned with international standards, public discourse often remains paternalistic and shaped by limited contact with disabled people’s lived experience.
- Disabled people in Romania often experience multiple and overlapping forms of disadvantage.
- While access to education for disabled learners has improved, structural gaps persist across early education, vocational training, and higher education. Support systems remain under-resourced, and staff often lack training in inclusive pedagogies.
- The transition from education to employment remains particularly fragile. Disabled artists face barriers to professional training, adapted work environments, and access to production systems.
- The report identifies persistent shortcomings in the accessibility of cultural venues, transport routes, and public buildings, alongside inconsistent enforcement of existing legislation.
- Inclusive digital practices have the potential to significantly expand access, particularly in a country with a strong IT sector.
- Cultural institutions often lack dedicated access roles, trained staff, and long-term strategies for inclusion. Progress is frequently driven by grassroots organisations and individual advocates working with limited resources.
- Cultural institutions and disabled artists face challenges in accessing resources, navigating complex funding processes, and securing long-term support.
- Romania’s experience with the European Capital of Culture, alongside wider EU funding instruments, offers pathways for strengthening international partnerships and capacity building.
- To move from fragmented initiatives to systemic progress, the report proposes the development of a National Arts and Disability Framework.
Sign Language Interpretation
The executive summary of the study was interpreted in both British Sign Language (BSL) and Romanian Sign Language (RSL), reflecting the British Council’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion. The interpretation was provided with the support of Fundația CODA Farmcul Tăcerii. Watch the BSL version below.