The Gallery wins the 2023 CERMI.ES award in the Universal Accessibility category.

This morning, the Royal Collections Gallery was awarded the 2023 CERMI.ES award of the Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities in the Universal Accessibility category for its “excellent adaptation to people with disabilities” and “its efforts to achieve full inclusion”. The Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Félix Bolaños, collected the award.

In his acceptance speech, the minister declared that "a society that does not pay attention to persons with disabilities is an incomplete society. It is a source of pride for our country to know that things have been done right from the start”. He emphasised that the Gallery "is a great museum, the most important museum to be opened in recent decades in Europe" and stressed that with its state-of-the-art design "it has achieved universal accessibility with panels in Braille, easy read guides, sign language; thus making the right
to culture a reality".

The President of Patrimonio Nacional, Ana de la Cueva, highlighted the efforts made by the institution to achieve the ambitious goal of universal accessibility, not only in the physical spaces but also in terms content, services and processes. "Working to ensure that Patrimonio Nacional is an institution open to all, and that the cultural and natural heritage that we manage is everyone's heritage, accessible to all, is a priority," she said.

The Secretary General of the Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities, Alberto Durán López, presented the award, praising the efforts of Patrimonio Nacional to promote access to culture. "If Patrimonio Nacional, with the treasures it houses, is capable of doing this, there is no reason why others cannot provide accessibility to all. Treasures are real treasures when they can be appreciated by the whole population”. Durán stressed that one of the aspects most valued by the CERMI was the excellence and attention paid to all disabilities:

Patrimonio Nacional has implemented important physical, cognitive and sensory accessibility measures in the Gallery, in collaboration with the Royal Disability Foundation and the ONCE Foundation. These include adapting spaces to facilitate obstacle-free circulation via ramps and lifts and the inclusion of sign language content. Wheelchairs, walking stick seats and folding chairs are also available on loan at the Gallery, allowing visitors to rest during the visit.