Exhibition: More Than Stone. Let’s Talk About Accessibility of Historical Monuments

“More Than Stone. Let’s Talk About Accessibility of Historical Monuments” is a new exhibition at the Castle in Cieszyn about the right to heritage. Is a historical monument still a “common good” if millions of people cannot enjoy it? The exhibition “More Than Stone. Let’s Talk About the Accessibility of Monuments”, presented at the Castle in Cieszyn as part of the “Design in Public Space” series, addresses one of the most important challenges of contemporary heritage protection: how to reconcile conservation with accessibility.

The exhibition was organised by Cieszyn Castle and curated by Magdalena Storożenko-Polak and Blanka Przedpełska from the PLACES Foundation, a foundation dedicated to inclusive design and accessibility.

“More Than Stone” moves away from the question “should monuments be made accessible?” in favour of the question “how canthis be done wisely?“. The exhibition is based on the social model of disability, which shows that it is not the body but poorly designed space that creates barriers. Ramps, lifts, tactile graphics, inscriptions and virtual tours are not a threat to history here – they are tools that restore heritage to millions of excluded people.

The exhibition presents projects from around the world, including Pompeii, Ferrara and Madrid, as well as Polish projects, including the activities of the National Museum in Krakow, the Museum of Warsaw and examples of digital reconstructions. They show how to combine advanced conservation with physical, sensory and cognitive accessibility.

An important context of the exhibition is also the impact of contact with heritage on health and well-being. Research cited in the exhibition proves that interacting with authentic works of art and monuments reduces stress levels, supports rehabilitation, improves the functioning of people with dementia and helps people in mental and social crises. The accessibility of monuments is therefore not only a matter of equality, but also a real investment in public health.

“More Than Stone” is an exhibition, an appeal and a practical guide. It gives a voice to self-advocates, raises questions about ableism in heritage protection and shows how to design monuments so that they truly belong to everyone.

The exhibition is open to the public until 1 March 2026. For more information,visit www.zamekcieszyn.pl.

Exhibition title:
More Than Stone: Let’s Talk About the Accessibility of HistoricBuildings

Organiser:
Cieszyn Castle

Curators:
Magdalena Storożenko-Polak, Blanka Przedpełska (PLACES Foundation)

Exhibition design:
Magdalena Storożenko-Polak (PLACES Foundation)

Graphic design:
Justyna Pianka, Katarzyna Mizera (PLACES Foundation)

Visual identity and catalogue design:
Justyna Pianka