Accessibility in Historic Sites and Cities: Online

We are pleased to invite you to participate in a Global Conference on Accessibility in Historic Sites and Cities hosted by the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum on December 4-5, 2024.

The Global Online Conference on Accessibility in Heritage Sites and Historic Cities will convene experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from across the globe to share case studies, explore solutions and promote collaborations to enhance accessibility in heritage environments. This exciting conference will discuss critical issues surrounding accessibility in historic sites, cities, and cultural heritage environments.

The Tower of David Jerusalem Museum, housed in the iconic citadel of Jerusalem, parts of which date back 2500 years, has recently completed a transformative 10-year renovation project, supported by Dame Vivien Duffield through the Clore Israel Foundation, making the historic site nearly fully accessible and inclusive for visitors. This renovation serves as a powerful example of how accessibility can be integrated into even the most ancient and sensitive heritage sites., and we are thrilled to share our experience with an international audience.

The conference will begin with an on-site session at the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum on December 3. Experts in architecture and archaeology will discuss the museum’s renewal and conservation efforts, as well as new accessibility routes in the Old City of Jerusalem. The talks will be accompanied by guided tours of the museum and historic city, focusing on physical upgrades and content development to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities. Please note that, unfortunately, these sessions will not be streamed. For information on the on-site session in Hebrew, click here.

This conference aims to champion best practices and foster global awareness and cooperation in promoting accessible tourism and heritage preservation. It will be an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas, share best practices, and explore future innovations in the field.

Conference Program
All sessions will be streamed, with speakers joining via webcam, with online captioning for all sessions

December 4

17:00-18:00 (CET) 16:00-17:00 (GMT) 11:00-12:00 (EST) 18:00-19:00 (IST)

Balancing Accessibility and Preservation: How to modernize historic sites and institutions while respecting their integrity.

Moderator: Eilat Lieber, Director and Chief Curator – Tower of David Jerusalem Museum, Jerusalem

Participants:
Professor Architect Etan Kimmel, Co-Founder, Kimmel Eshkolot Architects, Tel Aviv, Israel
Mark Trieglaff, President – Accessibility Consultation and Training Services, USA
Coco Raynes – President at Coco Raynes Associates, Inc.

18:00-19:00 (CET) 17:00-18:00 (GMT) 12:00-13:00 (EST)19:00-20:00 (IST)

Accessibility in Historic Cities: Practical solutions to improve access in historical urban environments.

Moderator: Sharon Dinur, Head of Preservation Department, Jerusalem Municipality, Israel

Participants:
Architect Katerina Papamichail, ENAT Board of Directors, Greece
Valerie Fletcher, Executive Director – Institute for Human Centered Design, Boston, USA
Regina Cohen, Architect, Associate Researcher – School of Architecture and Urbanism, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

19:00-20:00 (CET) 18:00-19:00 (GMT) 13:00-14:00 (EST) 20:00-21:00 (IST)

Technology in Heritage Sites: Leveraging innovations to create inclusive visitor experiences.

Moderator: Dr. Tsvi Kuflik, Professor of Information Systems, The University of Haifa, Israel

Participants:
Raphael Saxer, Founder – AUMIVI, Switzerland
Yishai Hatzir, StepHear – Israel
Thomas Fikken, Guide ID, The Netherlands
Menachem Schorr, Founder, Mensch Edutainment, Israel

December 5

17:00-18:00 (CET)/16:00-17:00 (GMT) 11:00-12:00 (EST) (18:00-19:00 IST)

Inclusive Tourism: Addressing the growing demand for accessible tourism

Welcome: Eilat Lieber, Director and Chief Curator – Tower of David Jerusalem Museum, Jerusalem

Moderator: Ivor Ambrose – Managing Director, ENAT

Participants:
Igor Stefanovic, Technical Coordinator, Ethics, Culture and Social Responsibility Dept, UNWTO
Tamar Makharashvili, Tbilisi Development Fund – TDF, Asian Development Bank – ADB
Jeremy Buzzell, Manager, Park Accessibility for Visitors and Employees, National Parks, USA

18:00-19:00 (CET) 17:00-18:00 (GMT) 12:00-13:00 (EST) 19:00-20:00 (IST)

From Jerusalem to Rome: Managing the delicate balance between conserving heritage and ensuring inclusivity.

Moderator: Eilat Lieber, Director and Chief Curator – Tower of David Jerusalem Museum, Jerusalem

Participants:
Eli Ilan, International Educational Programs, Tower of David Jerusalem Museum
Francesca Stasolla, Full Professor of Christian and Medieval Archaeology – Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Dr. Avi Ramot, Senior Consultant on Accessibility for the Old City Accessibility Project – Jerusalem, Israel

19:00-20:00 (CET) 18:00-19:00 (GMT) 13:00-14:00 (EST) 20:00-21:00 (IST)

Community Engagement and Inclusive Design: Ensuring local populations contribute to accessibility solutions.

Moderator: Michal Rimon, CEO Access Israel

Participants:
Isabella Essl – Head of Inclusive Arts, Zero Project, Vienna, Austria
Cathelijne Denekamp, Manager Accessibility & Inclusion Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Molly Bretton- Head of Learning, Royal Academy of Arts, London, UK
Reut Kozak, Archaeologist, Director of Accessibility and Inclusion, Tower of David Jerusalem Museum, Israel

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