Access4Culture - ESC-30 Solidarity Project

From May 2025 to February 2026, Access4Culture aimed to bridge the gap between high culture and marginalized youth, dismantling the invisible walls built by social inequality. Our goal was to promote inclusion and equal access by breaking down the barriers, on one hand make culture feel reserved for certain social groups, while on the other prevent young people from engaging with cultural life.

From the very beginning, our goal was to create free and inclusive opportunities for young people to experience art, music, theatre, film, and museums. We approached this by introducing participants to various forms of arts and cultural institutions, while also creating spaces where the participants had the opportunity to reflect on their experiences and challenge the stereotypes. Participants were encouraged to become more open-minded, collectively process what was seen, and think critically throughout.

During the implementation of the project, 15-25 participants took part in each of the eight cultural programmes across Budapest, starting from September 2025. From an Erasmus Orchestra concert and backstage visit at the Academy of Music (Zeneakadémia) in September, to watching a pre-screening of an Oscar-winning film "No Other Choice" at Uránia Cinema in November, and experiencing Mozart’s The Magic Flute in December. In 2026, we started with viewing the processing of Chaplin's The Great Dictator performance at the Vígszínház in January, then visited the National Theatre to watch Merry-Go-Round (Körhinta), and concluded the project in February with guided tours at the National Gallery and watching Puccini's Tosca at the Opera.

These activities allowed the participants to engage in cultural spaces and art forms they had not experienced otherwise. What made the project unique was the opportunity for participants to reflect at the end of every event. After each programme, the participants joined discussions, workshops, and reflective sessions, all based on non-formal learning methods.

Another important aspect was the strong focus on inclusion, especially through growing interest from foreign young people living in Hungary who faced similar financial and social challenges in accessing culture. In response, we ensured that activities remain accessible through English subtitles and bilingual discussion.

SOYA is incredibly proud to execute Access4Culture project, where young people experienced culture in a meaningful and innovative way. This project reaffirmed our approach that culture should never be a privilege, and we hope to see our participants become cultural ambassadors who promote accessibility and inclusion for everyone.

The project is funded by the European Union through the European Solidarity Corps. Project code: 2024-3-HU01-ESC30-SOL000272844