The Art4all project was conceived not simply as an arts festival, but as a platform for changing the position of artists with disabilities within Croatia's cultural landscape. Its aim was to increase their visibility and professional recognition while challenging their continued underrepresentation in mainstream cultural programmes. By bringing together Croatian and European artists with and without disabilities through exhibitions, workshops, performances and professional exchange, the project sought to demonstrate that inclusive artistic practice can be an integral part of contemporary cultural life rather than being treated as a separate social or therapeutic activity.

Art4All promotes the social inclusion of people with disabilities through art, creativity, and active participation in cultural life. The project is based on the conviction that artistic value is not determined by formal education, social status, or membership in artistic circles. Art creates spaces where diverse voices can be seen, heard, and appreciated on equal terms.

Marina Chrystoph, Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum Zagreb and the President of the EUNIC cluster Croatia

The festival was held in Zagreb from 8 to 26 June 2026 and offered a diverse programme, including exhibitions, visual arts and dance workshops, accessible performances, film screenings, panel discussions and an inclusive guided tour.

Activities:

• Exhibitions: Group exhibition at the Art&CeRZe Gallery featuring local and international artists, including works from Art Brut Center Gugging; exhibition by French artist Margot at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
• Workshops: Visual arts workshops for Centre users, art students and the wider public, as well as inclusive dance workshops for professional dancers.
• Performances: Inclusive theatre production Accidentally Me, created and performed by Centre users and students from Zagreb’s arts and education institutions.
• Professional programme: Training for museum professionals on welcoming visitors with disabilities, a lecture on Art Brut, and a panel discussion on challenges of inclusion.
• Film & guided activities: Screening of the documentary No hay errores, alongside an inclusive guided tour and workshop at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Institutional support and legal frameworks only reach their full potential when they work in synergy with projects such as the Art4All festival.

Dražena Vrselja, State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia

Art4All successfully created a new platform for the professional presentation and recognition of artists with disabilities within the Croatian cultural sector. The activities demonstrated that accessibility and inclusion can be integrated into professional cultural programming. In this way, the project provided a practical example of how cultural institutions, artists and international partners can work together to make artistic life more open and accessible. Art4All helped build momentum towards a more inclusive Croatian art scene and laid the foundations for future cooperation.

Today, here, we are affirming what inclusion truly means. It is not, and must not be, merely a goal of public policies and various strategies. Inclusion is not just a nice word. Inclusion exists only when it is put into practice.

Alen Ružić, Minister of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy of the Republic of Croatia, at the opening of the festival