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Barrier-free culture: how institutions in Lviv region are changing

  • Interior of the Lviv Art Palace: a spacious entrance area with tiled floors and walls, a wooden ceiling, and large glass doors. In the foreground, two people in winter clothing—one seated in a wheelchair—are engaged in conversation. In the background, three others stand near a wall with posters and brochures. The scene reflects accessibility and interaction within a cultural venue.
  • A stone wall with multiple directional signs pointing to a museum, exposition, and organ hall. The signs are in both Ukrainian and English. Graffiti is visible at the bottom, and to the right is a wooden door with iron bars and hinges, topped by a barred window. The scene captures a historical or cultural site with bilingual signage for visitors.
  • A man in a wheelchair is inside a glass elevator in a modern building. The walls and floor are tiled. A transparent plastic sheet with blue painter’s tape hangs on the left side, indicating ongoing construction or installation. The elevator is designed for accessibility, supporting mobility for individuals with disabilities. The scene highlights inclusive infrastructure in public spaces.
  • A dark-colored restroom sign mounted on a white wall indicates a women’s toilet with accessibility features. The sign displays white icons: a female figure, the letters “WC,” and a wheelchair symbol. The scene highlights inclusive and accessible restroom facilities in a public setting.
  • Entrance to a historic building—the Museum of the History of Religion in Lviv. Above the doorway is a sign with the museum’s name, flanked by the Ukrainian and European Union flags. A metal fence partially blocks the entrance, indicating renovation work. On the left is a mural of Nicolaus Copernicus on a vine-covered wall. Nearby are plaques and signs, including a street sign reading “1 Muzeina Street.” The scene reflects cultural heritage and public accessibility.

08.12.2025

Articles

Barrier-free access does not begin with loud words. It appears where there is systematic work, a professional approach, and a willingness to take responsibility. This is exactly how cultural institutions in Lviv region are changing today.

The Luhansk Association of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and its head, Mykola Nadulychny, are working consistently with the authorities — not through declarations, but through inspections, recommendations and ongoing dialogue. Where issues of accessibility have been put off for years, real solutions are beginning to emerge.

Currently, work to improve accessibility is underway in several landmark institutions in the region: the Lviv Museum of the History of Religion, the Lviv Palace of Arts, and the Myroslav Skoryk Lviv National Philharmonic.

At the Museum of the History of Religion, an architectural monument from the 14th–18th centuries, the stairs are being widened, a ramp is being prepared for the main entrance, internal thresholds and steps are being removed, clear routes are being created, and an accessible toilet is being installed. Every decision is made with the requirements for preserving historical heritage in mind.

The Lviv Palace of Arts already has a lift to all floors and a lift to the basement level. Accessible toilets are being installed, a mother and child room is in operation, and a new entrance area with automatic doors is currently being implemented. Mykola Nadulychny personally checked the infrastructure solutions while moving around in a wheelchair.

The National Philharmonic plans to install an electric lift from the stalls to the stage, has purchased a system for people who use hearing aids, is continuing to refurbish the toilets and is preparing to install tactile Braille signs.

In the summer, the LAOPD team surveyed a number of Lviv Regional Council institutions — cultural, medical and administrative buildings — and provided practical recommendations. Some of them are already being implemented.

“Yes, historic buildings are complex and expensive. But that is precisely why the state and local authorities must seek solutions to ensure accessibility where there are the most people,” emphasises Mykola Nadulychny.

Barrier-free culture is not an optional extra. It is a sign of respect for veterans, people with disabilities, older people and parents with children. It is about feeling welcome.

This is what real civil society influence on government decisions looks like. And this is how, step by step, a country without barriers is being built.

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