Fostering equality and young people involvement through cultural activities

The BiH National Gallery implemented Blue Artism, an inclusive cultural programme offering alternative digital interpretations of artworks for children aged 10–14 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The project culminated in the development of the ARTsee app, a technology-assisted educational tool featuring animated art, audio descriptions, and explanatory text. The app increases accessibility for young visitors with developmental disabilities both on-site—via QR-scanning tablets in the museum—and remotely from home.

The Balkan Museum Access Group (BMAG), formed under the Crafting Access programme, is a peer-learning network that trains museum professionals in accessibility and inclusion practices. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, BMAG has facilitated interventions such as tactile museum workshops, 3D-printed exhibit models, and accessible guided tours—enhancing cultural participation for young people with disabilities. 

The UDAS Organization of Amputees of RS operates the UDAS Art Gallery, a rare no-fee exhibition space in Southeast Europe dedicated to both disabled and non-disabled young artists. The gallery promotes social inclusion through exhibitions, creative workshops, and community art projects with a therapeutic dimension. 

Combating discrimination and poverty through cultural activities

Launched in early 2025, the Youth 4 Inclusion, Equality, and Trust project is supported by the UN Peacebuilding Fund and implemented in BiH by UNFPA, UNESCO, and UN Women in partnership with the Ministry of Civil Affairs. It empowers young people to advance intercultural dialogue, inclusion, and gender equality through cultural activities and trust-building storytelling. 

The Mozaik Foundation runs YouthBank and Startup Studio programmes with the support of the Swiss Cooperation Programme. These initiatives have funded over 2,000 youth-led projects and 240 micro-enterprises, fostering civic participation, identity formation, and economic inclusion among marginalized youth.

Juventafest is an annual international youth theatre festival in Sarajevo. It combines creative performance with discussions on social issues such as identity, discrimination, mental health, and human rights. The festival’s workshops, masterclasses, and performances amplify marginalized voices and encourage cultural participation.

Youth Leadership for Social Cohesion is a cross-border EU project
supported under the  EU Cross-border Programme.  This initiative brought together nearly 14,000 youth from BiH and Serbia. Through workshops, cultural events, and exchanges, the project fostered leadership, social cohesion, and European values, bridging divisions across communities.