Maria Vlachou is a founding member and Executive Director of Access Culture, an association whose mission is to improve physical, social and intellectual access to cultural participation, making it more inclusive and accessible for a wider audience.
Q > Give an example of a successful project you’ve completed — and tell us about what factors were responsible for its success.
A > In Portugal, our association launched the website Cultura Acessível [Accessible Culture]. It aims to bring together information regarding accessible cultural programming for people with disabilities and with specific needs. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without the financial support of a bank foundation, Millennium BCP. I believe we managed to get their support because we have built a relationship of trust and a reputation of professionalism, transparency and accountability. Thanks to this website, people may get informed, they may come out of their homes and we may all share the same space and experiences, no matter the capacities or incapacities of each one of us.
Q > How do you challenge convention?
A > First of all, I believe we need to become aware of convention. This can only happen if we pay attention to what is going on around us, eager to learn and to understand, open to listening and talking to diverse people. Then we can take this questioning into our own bubble, provide spaces for discussion, confront established views and comfortable interpretations. It’s about listening and questioning.
Q > How has prejudice affected you?
A > I am not aware of prejudice having affected me personally. Perhaps I am too sure of myself (is this a good thing…?). But I have become more and more aware of how prejudice has affected friends, colleagues and neighbours for being women, black, LGBT, poor… The status quo gives opportunities only to certain people, people with a certain profile. We lack representation from an early stage in life and representation matters.
Q > Tell us about lessons you refuse to learn and values you hold on to.
A > I resist the idea or lesson of “fake diplomacy” in professional encounters. That is, that we need to keep a positive environment at any cost and avoid calling certain things by their name. All too often, this attitude leaves us with an agreeable environment and nothing else, no progress. I value honesty, respect, transparency and accountability.
Q > The greatest challenge you’ve overcome?
A > Feeling totally unhappy in my working environment some years ago, I took the hard decision of resigning. I had a number of concerns, as this was a stable job and benefits that I was throwing away. Getting back to work, with a project built from scratch, was a great challenge. With the help of my family and colleagues, it seems to have paid off. Seven years and kicking…
Q > The most pivotal moment you’ve had?
A > Having been accepted to do a fellowship in the United States, at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It was my most significant professional experience and very impactful on a personal level too. It changed the way I looked at myself, my capacities and the people around me. It was thanks to this that I managed to build my own project and do something that made me feel happy and useful.
Q > Challenging conversations, introspective moments, inspirational triggers, political views, social shifts: which topics do you find yourself debating these days?
A > The quality of our democracy, the loss of humanity and empathy, the lack of representation and opportunities for all, common values.
Q > Which things do you think the people around you often take for granted?
A > Freedom and love.
Maria Vlachou is the author of the bilingual (pt/en) blog Musing on Culture, where she writes about culture, the arts, museums, cultural management and communication, access. Previously, she was Communications Director of São Luiz Municipal Theatre and Head of Communication of the Pavilion of Knowledge — Ciência Viva (Lisbon). She has an MA in museum studies from University College London.