In cooperation with the Inclusion Centre Šibenik, eleven employees of the Fortress of Culture Šibenik completed a training on inclusive communication – an important step towards creating cultural spaces that are accessible and understandable to everyone, including people with intellectual disabilities.
The training titled “Person-Centred Approach and Accessible Language for Better Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Cultural Life” was held from 6 to 9 October 2025.
The programme covered communication and presentation skills, the philosophy of inclusion, person-centred approaches, and practical exercises under supervision at St. John’s Fortress and Barone Fortress.
This activity is part of the Network for Green and Inclusive Fortified Tourism Solutions (GIFTSnet) project, funded under the Interreg VI-A IPA Programme Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021–2027, in which the Fortress of Culture Šibenik acts as the lead partner.
The project connects partners from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro with the goal of strengthening sustainable and inclusive approaches in cultural tourism.
The cooperation between the Fortress of Culture and the Inclusion Centre began earlier this spring, when the Centre’s beneficiaries participated in producing souvenirs for the Night of Fortresses Goes Green event. That activity was marked by creativity, collaboration, and the creation of opportunities for vulnerable groups to engage in cultural initiatives.
Through this training, the Fortress of Culture further strengthens its capacity for accessible communication and inclusive practices. The focus is on understanding the needs of visitors with disabilities, adapting content, and creating a positive environment where everyone feels welcome and can participate equally in the city’s cultural life.
The GIFTSnet project (Network for Green and Inclusive Fortified Tourism Solutions) started on September 15, 2024, with duration until March 14, 2027. Project is led by Public cultural Institution Fortress of Culture Šibenik, with partners City of Banja Luka, Municipality of Bar, City of Karlovac, Public institution Main Museum of Herzegovina in Trebinje, and Municipality of Ulcinj. Total project budget is €2,244,442.80, 85% of which is co-financed within Interreg IPA Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021–2027 programme.
GIFTSnet will enhance sustainable and inclusive cultural tourism development in the programme area by implementing green, sustainable and nature-based investments in 7 cultural tourism sites in Šibenik, Karlovac, Banja Luka, Trebinje, Bar and Ulcinj, by developing socially inclusive place-based tourism offer on sites, and by building capacities of cross border stakeholders for sustainable economic, social and environmentally friendly development of cultural tourism in the programme area.
This post was created with the support of the European Union. The content of this post is the sole responsibility of the Public Cultural Institution Fortress of Culture Šibenik and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
