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Learning to Change, The Role of Educational Institutions in Fostering Accessibility for Disabled Artists & Culture Professionals in Europe

Learning to Change, a report authored by On the Move and commissioned by Skånes Dansteater as part of Europe Beyond Access, with the support of the British Council, was officially launched on the 3rd of December 2025, the international Day of People with Disabilities.

This report examines accessibility barriers faced by disabled people in higher education performing arts institutions across Creative Europe countries and the UK. It has been conducted in the context of Europe Beyond Access (EBA), an EU funded project that supports the creation of new works by Deaf and/or disabled artists across Europe. The report builds on previous EBA research which identified higher education institutions as key ‘gatekeepers’, frequently hindering opportunities for disabled artists.

The elaboration of the report involved multiple data collection methods, including three online surveys (addressing, respectively, disabled artists/professionals, higher education institutions and performing arts organisations), interviews and focus groups, desk research and analyses of existing practices. Thanks to this, the resulting report presents substantial evidence of obstacles and challenges that impede access to higher education and subsequent access to the professional performing arts, as well as some good practices and enabling factors. The report includes final detailed recommendations actionable at the levels of educational institutions, performing arts cultural organisations and EU institutions.