As part of the Zero Project Call for Nominations 2026 (#ZeroCall26) will be honoring inclusive art initiatives as a separate category for the first time. Thirteen projects from Europe, North America, and South America have made the shortlist.
This year's #ZeroCall26 focuses on three topics: Accessibility, IT Solutions, and Crisis & Disaster Management. A total of 586 nominations were submitted from 93 countries.
In the context of accessibility, 48 initiatives from the arts sector were nominated. They were evaluated in a separate selection process led by Isabella Essl, Head of Zero Project Inclusive Arts, with the involvement of the international Zero Project Inclusive Arts community. The main criteria were innovation, impact, and scalability.
The shortlist of 13 inclusive art initiatives includes:
- Austria: Vienna Museum | Canon EMEA/Canon Austria | A feast for the ears
- Brazil: Motiva Institute & Escola de Gente
- Chile: Corporación Antilén
- Ireland: Suisha Inclusive Arts / Horizons
- Netherlands: Stichting Possibilize
- Norway: The Dissimilis Music Festival
- Poland: ZAMEK Culture Centre in Poznań
- Spain: Espurna Foundation
- Sweden: Skånes Dansteater
- United Kingdom: Layers of Vision by Royal Holloway University of London, King's College London, Shape Arts, Lancaster Business School
- USA: Omnium Circus
All projects that made it onto the #ZeroCall26 shortlist will receive an invitation to the Zero Project Conference 2026 (February 18–20) at the UNO City in Vienna.
An International Arts Experts Panel of 18 experts from the arts, culture, and inclusion sectors—including representatives from Uganda, Japan, India, Europe, and North and South America—will make the final selection of the "Zero Project Arts Awardees." The winners will be announced on December 3, 2025, International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The diversity and regional distribution of these 13 inclusive art initiatives demonstrates that inclusion in art is a global movement.
More information can be found here on the Zero Project website under news and #ZeroCall26 Shortlist (at the bottom)