Access City Award

07/08/2023

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Access City Award 2024

Welcome to the first Access City Award newsletter!

We are happy to launch the Access City Award (ACA) newsletter, a new space aiming to inspire cities, organisations, and communities. It provides insights, updates, and practical advice on enhancing accessibility. Because the key to improving quality of life for all citizens is making sure that no one stays locked out.

This issue features the launch of the Access City Award 2024 competition. It includes shareable content for you to use on your own channels to help spread the word as well as resources to prepare your ACA 2024 application.

Apply to ACA 2024

This EU award recognises cities that have done outstanding work to become more accessible for persons with disabilities. The award is organised by the European Commission in partnership with the European Disability Forum. The winner and runners-up receive a monetary prize:

• 1st place: €150 000
• 2nd place: €120 000
• 3rd place: €80 000

The 2024 Access City Award competition is now open for applications. Cities across the EU with over 50 000 inhabitants are eligible to apply. If a country has fewer than two cities with so many inhabitants, two or more smaller cities in the country can join to apply if together they have more than 50 000 inhabitants.

Access City Award Ceremony photo of all winners

The winners will be announced on 30 November 2023 with first, second and third place prizes and up to five special mentions being awarded. This year, there will be a special mention for the New European Bauhaus. It will recognise a city that goes above and beyond by creating accessible environments that are not only inclusive but also sustainable and aesthetically pleasing.

As Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, noted in the launch video, “Cities are investing in the digital and green transitions. This brings opportunities but also the responsibility to ensure that these transitions benefit everyone, including persons with disabilities”.

Video: Access City Award 2024

Applications must be made by completing and submitting an online application by 18 September 2023 noon (12:00 CEST) at the latest.

Since 2011, 80 cities have won an Access City Award or a special mention. Could your city be our 2024 winner?

Meet the 2023 Access City Award Winner: Skellefteå

The 2023 Access City Award winner, Skellefteå, put accessibility at the heart of all its plans. Skellefteå has made public spaces such as playgrounds and streets accessible and functional with tactile information signs and ground heating so that snow and ice are not an impediment. Alongside this, an SMS-service for blind and partially sighted persons to inform them on potential obstacles across the city has been created. Through its strong evaluation and monitoring system, Skellefteå has ensured that it is accessible to all its citizens.

For Skellefteå, ‘Strategic work with strong determination and the right focus works. It enables people to be active, ensures participation, and moves us towards an equal and stronger society. By working together, we increase changes to build a more inclusive city, for a future that does not settle for anything but full accessibility.’ Watch their video to find out more about their approach to accessibility!

Video: Access City Award 2023: Skellefteå – First winner

Spread the word

Help more cities find solutions that are good for everyone and spread the word about the Access City Award.

In the communication toolkit you can find ready-to use materials to promote ACA through your own channels:

• News release of the ACA 2024 launch in 24 EU languages.
• ACA 2024 banners
• Editable social media posts
• An editable social media visual
• Visual style elements of ACA 2024

Resources

Access City Award brochure 2023

The 2023 Access City Award brochure is now available in all EU languages. This brochure celebrates the achievements of the 2023 winner, runners-up and special mentions. They are excellent examples of how cities are working hard to become a better place to live and visit for everyone. The examples in the brochure can help you prepare your application for the 2024 edition of the Access City Award.

New European Bauhaus

The New European Bauhaus is a creative and interdisciplinary initiative that connects the European Green Deal to our living spaces and experiences. This initiative calls on all of us to imagine and build together a sustainable and inclusive future that is beautiful for our eyes, minds, and souls. The creation of this future will need to be inclusive towards all. To ensure this, a design for all approach should be adopted to create accessible places, practices, and experiences that embody the New European Bauhaus principles.

European Accessibility Resource Centre AccessibleEU

AccessibleEU is one of the flagship initiatives proposed in the European Commission’s Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030. It is a resource centre on accessibility, working on the areas of built environment, transport, information, communication technologies and policies in order to ensure persons with disabilities’ participation in all areas of life on an equal basis with others.

Get involved

Do you have any news, events or publications you would like to see published in the Access City Award newsletter?

Get in touch with us!

DG EMPL is responsible for the publication of this newsletter.

For any questions, please contact: secretariat@accesscityaward.eu

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