ICL EXPERIENCE OF THE SVERDLOVSK REGION INNOVATIVE CULTURAL CENTER IN CREATING AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT

The article presents the experience of implementing an Inclusive Creative Laboratory (ICL) based on the State Autonomous Cultural Institution of the Sverdlovsk Region “Innovative Cultural Center”. The key provision is that ICL is a platform that helps to find, explore and test in practice new opportunities for people with disabilities, which allows them to reveal their creative potential in inclusive programmes and promotes creative self-realisation. The role of culture and arts in the successful integration of people with disabilities into society is emphasised. The concepts of accessibility, inclusive environment, cultural inclusion, creativity and inclusive creative laboratory are considered. Five categories of disabled people are characterised, which is taken into account when creating inclusive cultural programmes. The problems that arise when creating and organising the ICL activities and the need to create ICLs in cultural institutions are justified. The analysis of the exploratory research on the development of an inclusive environment in a cultural institution is conducted and the results of the interviews and surveys of the participants of creative fields of “Fine Arts” and “Performing Arts (Vocal)” are presented. Criteria for the effectiveness of teaching in these creative areas are identified. Based on the results of the study, conclusions are drawn and recommendations for specialists of cultural institutions in the formation of an inclusive environment are proposed.