Cultural Participation as a Pathway to Social Inclusion: A Systematic Review and Youth Perspectives on Disability and Engagement

Social inclusion, particularly in the cultural domain, is a fundamental pillar for ensuring the full participation of all individuals in community life, fostering equity, well-being, and the recognition of diversity. This article has two objectives. Firstly, it aims to conduct a systematic review to diagnose the factors that exclude vulnerable groups from cultural access. Secondly, the aim is to understand how a group of young people with disabilities perceive the role of culture as a tool for social and labour inclusion. In October 2023, a systematic review was conducted in the Web of Science and Scopus electronic databases. A total of 37 articles were included in the review and classified into the following five areas of interest. The categories were as follows: (1) the relationship between cultural participation and physical and emotional well-being; (2) universal accessibility as a right to guarantee equitable access to culture; (3) the ability of people with disabilities to participate in culture; (4) the role of cultural policies as facilitators or barriers to inclusion; and (5) participation in contexts of cultural diversity as a means of social integration. These categories guided discussions with two focus groups comprising 15 young people. The positive impact of cultural participation, especially in its social dimension, was highlighted. The data point to the value of technology as a facilitator of access to culture, particularly for young people. Policies should focus on diverse cultural expressions and promote cognitive accessibility.