Study of Indicators of the Barrier-Free Environment of Museums in Irkutsk

Abstract

The article reflects the mission of museums and the shift of classical museum values to realities of modern life. The study examined different typologies of museum visitors and specifics of their perception. Particular attention is paid to persons with disabilities. Museums have always declared themselves as an accessible environment, able to bring all members of society closer rather than alienate them, so special attention is paid to the universality of all expositions and events held in museums. We studied seventeen most visited museums of Irkutsk. The evaluation of the indicators of accessibility of functional areas and adjacent areas was carried out according to the following sections: adjacent area, entrance area, reception area, functional areas, exposition, methodical materials, excursion programs and events, communication with healthy visitors, technological accessibility, marketing promotion of the museum for people with disabilities. The results of the study can be integrated with geoinformation services to improve the information accessibility of the studied museums.