The OPEN Expertise Centre for Accessible Media and Culture was founded in 2018 by the Faculty of Arts and Philosophy of the University of Antwerp. It is housed in the Department of Applied Linguistics, Translation and Interpreting.  

The Expertise Centre is able to draw on the substantial expertise of TricS, the Department’s research group, which has been researching the accessibility of media and culture in Flanders and beyond for some years now (www.uantwerpen.be/trics).

As a centre of expertise, OPEN bridges the gap between academia, the media and cultural landscape and users. In line with this function, we want not only to valorise academic research, but also to cooperate actively with both local and international partners in the field. We believe that knowledge of accessibility develops from cross-fertilisation between research, practice, art and policy and is also a product of experience.

For example, OPEN organises and supports events that raise awareness about accessibility. And it brings together relevant stakeholders in the field so that they can exchange their knowledge and experience. OPEN also supports accessibility initiatives through consultancy and training.

In addition, the Expertise Centre conducts fundamental and practice-based research on various areas of accessibility; in doing so, it involves partners in the field, its focus being on creating interdisciplinary teams.