Digital Accessibility Report of European Museums
We share Kinaole’s valuable report, “Digital Accessibility Report of European Museums.” It analyses and presents conclusions based on a study of 17 European cultural institutions, including the Louvre, British Museum, Rijksmuseum, Museo del Prado, and the Pompidou Centre.
The European Museum Academy is pleased to present Kinaole’s valuable report, “Digital Accessibility Report of European Museums.” This document features analyses and conclusions from a study on the digital accessibility of 17 cultural institutions across Europe.
Key Insights
- Audits covered 17 websites, including those of renowned museums such as the Louvre, the British Museum, Rijksmuseum, Museo del Prado, and the Pompidou Centre.
- Evaluators assessed the desktop versions of these websites, focusing on functionalities such as selecting a visit date and purchasing tickets. Responsiveness of the websites was also examined.
- The report highlights that despite increasing awareness of digital accessibility, many websites still face challenges in meeting WCAG standards.
Accessibility Level: A Mere 54%
Major obstacles include criteria related to Info and Relationships (1.3.1) and Link Purpose (in Context) (2.4.4). Furthermore, 8 out of 17 museums fail to provide text alternatives for images, highlighting a lack of strategy in this area.
Main Issues Identified:
- Disrupted heading hierarchy.
- Lack of landmarks.
- Insufficient link context.
Why Does Digital Accessibility Matter?
Because culture should be for everyone! Participation in cultural life, including visiting museums, must not exclude anyone. As emphasized by the report’s authors, accessibility is not just a legal requirement but a cornerstone of equal access to culture.
Who Is This Report For?
The report is designed for representatives of cultural institutions, as well as experts in digital accessibility, design, implementation, and the development of digital products. However, we hope it will reach a broad audience, raising awareness of the barriers still faced by people with disabilities. At the same time, the report highlights the significant efforts made to remove some of these barriers.
The report is available for free download at https://www.kinaole.co/digital-accessibility-museums-europe/ by providing an email address.
To gain valuable insights and contribute to the ongoing dialogue on digital accessibility in museums, we invite you to visit the Kinaole’s website for additional information.