This scoping study examines the current landscape of arts and disability in Romania and sets out an evidence-based foundation for strengthening cultural participation, representation, and professional pathways for disabled people. Commissioned by the British Council, the study draws on national legislation, international frameworks, and qualitative research undertaken with both disabled and non-disabled artists, cultural practitioners, educators, public authorities, funders, non-governmental organisations, and civil society actors.

The study seeks to understand how disabled people currently experience cultural life in Romania, both as audiences and as creators, and to identify the structural barriers and enabling conditions that shape participation. Three core questions run throughout the report. The first considers how national values, public discourse, and legal frameworks influence disabled people’s visibility and participation in cultural life. The second examines systemic barriers across education, employment, public space, and cultural institutions. The third explores opportunities for coordinated action through capacity building, funding, and European cooperation.

Key insights

• While legal language has increasingly aligned with international standards, public discourse often remains paternalistic and shaped by limited contact with disabled people’s lived experience.
• Disabled people in Romania often experience multiple and overlapping forms of disadvantage.
• While access to education for disabled learners has improved, structural gaps persist across early education, vocational training, and higher education. Support systems remain under-resourced, and staff often lack training in inclusive pedagogies.
• The transition from education to employment remains particularly fragile. Disabled artists face barriers to professional training, adapted work environments, and access to production systems.
• The report identifies persistent shortcomings in the accessibility of cultural venues, transport routes, and public buildings, alongside inconsistent enforcement of existing legislation.
• Inclusive digital practices have the potential to significantly expand access, particularly in a country with a strong IT sector.
• Cultural institutions often lack dedicated access roles, trained staff, and long-term strategies for inclusion. Progress is frequently driven by grassroots organisations and individual advocates working with limited resources.
• Cultural institutions and disabled artists face challenges in accessing resources, navigating complex funding processes, and securing long-term support.
• Romania’s experience with the European Capital of Culture, alongside wider EU funding instruments, offers pathways for strengthening international partnerships and capacity building.
• To move from fragmented initiatives to systemic progress, the report proposes the development of a National Arts and Disability Framework.

Sign language interpretation 

The executive summary of the study was interpreted in both British Sign Language (BSL) and Romanian Sign Language (RSL), reflecting the British Council’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion. The interpretation was provided with the support of Fundația CODA Farmecul Tăcerii. Watch the BSL and RSL versions below.

Citation and licensing 

Macrinici, O., & Meth, J. (2026). Arts and disability in Romania. British Council. https://doi.org/10.57884/728E-8X32

Copyright © British Council 2026, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International Licence.