Open Talks, Open Practices, Open Gallery | Non-conference: education, accessibility, networking

What does it mean to be an open institution? How can we practice accessibility with genuine respect, rather than condescension? What does hospitality look like in the contexts of migration, disability and diversity? How do we design cultural programmes that truly welcome adult learners? And how do we listen – not merely to hear, but to transform our own practices?

23/05/2025 (Friday), 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Galeria Labirynt, Lublin
The event will be held in English, with simultaneous interpretation into Polish and Polish Sign Language (PJM).
Participation is free of charge; please register in advance via this form.

Open Talks, Open Practices, Open Gallery marks the culmination of the “Open Gallery” project (2023-1-PL01-KA122-ADU-000144628), delivered by Galeria Labirynt under the Erasmus+ programme. Rather than a standard conference wrap-up, we invite you into a spirit of collective reflection, shared presence and institutional dialogue. Freed from hierarchies, podiums and one-way presentations, we create a space where multiple experiences – those of participants, educators and guest experts – resonate in parallel and on equal footing. Cultural educators, accessibility specialists, institutional leaders, project partners and mobility participants will come together to examine what we’ve learned, consider what we can change, identify what deserves further development – and imagine what kind of cultural institution we can build next.

Event Programme

• 10:00–10:45 a.m. | Opening and Welcome
  Presentation of the project’s aims, activities and outcomes by the coordinating team (Agata Sztorc-Gromaszek, Krystian Kamiński)
• 10:45–11:00 a.m. | Coffee Break
• 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Module 1 – EMST Course: Reflection Circle
  An open conversation in a circle format with participants of the educational course at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens (EMΣT). Each speaker will introduce one theme from the course and reflect on an implementation workshop they conducted upon returning to Poland – sharing learning, uncertainties and fresh perspectives for institutional and educational practice.
  Participants: Barbara Gryka, Filip Kijowski, Agata Sztorc-Gromaszek, Magdalena Szubielska, Michał Tokarz-Mazurek, Paulina Tokarz-Mazurek, Monika Rejman, Mateusz Wszelaki
• 12:00–12:30 p.m. | Coffee Break
• 12:30–1:30 p.m. | Module 2 – Job Shadowing: Poster Session
  An open poster session showcasing experiences from job-shadowing visits to six European institutions: Accademia Carrara (Bergamo), Casa São Roque (Porto), MitOst, ZK/U and zusa (Berlin), and Copenhagen Contemporary (Copenhagen). Participants will present and discuss their observations directly with attendees, offering multiple perspectives on institutional practice.
  Participants: Barbara Gryka, Krystian Kamiński, Paweł Korbus, Agata Sztorc-Gromaszek, Magdalena Szubielska, Monika Rejman, Waldemar Tatarczuk, Paulina Tokarz-Mazurek, Mateusz Wszelaki, Victoriia Zymomria
• 1:30–2:30 p.m. | Module 3 – Expert Themed Tables
  A World Café format of open discussions at themed tables led by invited experts, each exploring a key question drawn from her professional practice and social engagement:
  Selene Carboni (Italy): How can cultural institutions welcome blind visitors?
  Selene Carboni is an art historian and museum educator who specialises in translating visual art into accessible forms for people with vision loss. Since 2019, she has been collaborating with a team of psychologists at the University of Toronto who analyse drawings made by blind individuals. She is a teaching assistant for the Digital Communication for the Arts course at IULM University. Selene is the author of books on accessible education and several academic articles on image perception and tactile bas-reliefs.
  Marina Tsekou (Greece): Can museums serve as intermediaries, amplifying voices and personal stories to create positive social impact?
  Marina Tsekou is the Education Curator at EMΣT – the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Athens, Greece. Her work focuses on ensuring equal access to art and culture for young people, adults, and diverse social groups. With extensive experience in designing educational materials for teenagers and educators, she explores ways of making contemporary art more approachable, enjoyable, and engaging for a wide audience. At EMΣT, she initiated and coordinates EMΣT Without Borders, a participatory programme developed in collaboration with social, cultural, and educational institutions. She is also the creator of Face Forward… into my home, an interactive art project that supports refugees in sharing their stories, daily lives, and cultural heritage, fostering dialogue and mutual understanding between communities. Holding a background in philosophy, psychology, and pedagogy, her current research interests include art education, adult learning, social inclusion, and cross-cultural communication.
  Kasia Zielińska (Germany/Poland): How can cultural institutions support culture professionals from crisis areas and help integrate them into the local ecosystem?
  Kasia Zielińska is a culture manager and co-managing director of zusa gGmbH. Her work focuses on supporting mental health in the cultural sector. At zusa, she is responsible for the AiR zusa residency programme and for projects related to collaboration with Ukrainian cultural practitioners. Previously, she was the project coordinator of i-Portunus Houses at MitOst. For over ten years, she worked with the European Capital of Culture Wrocław 2016, serving in various roles, including visual arts coordinator, coordinator of art residencies and cultural mobility projects, and international relations manager. She was the chief producer of the Ukrainian National Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale.
• 2:30–3:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks

About the Project
“Open Gallery” is an international educational initiative by Galeria Labirynt under the Erasmus+ programme (2023-1-PL01-KA122-ADU-000144628). It comprises an educational course at EMST in Athens, job-shadowing visits to partner institutions in Germany, Italy, Portugal and Denmark, followed by implementation workshops and reflective sessions in Lublin. The project’s aim is to co-create more accessible and inclusive cultural institutions, where change emerges through process and relationships.

Funded by the European Union. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the Education Development Centre – National Agency for Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. Neither the EU nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.