Accessible heritage: experience report on the guided tour for the deaf at the Arthur Azevedo Theater

Abstract

This experience report aims to analyze the practices of accessibility and inclusion of deaf people at the Arthur Azevedo Theater, located in the historic center of São Luís/MA. The research is based on observations made during an extracurricular internship, focusing on guided tours in Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) and on the role of communicational mediation as a strategy to democratize cultural access. Based on the analysis of Brazilian legislation — such as Law No. 10.098/2000, Law No. 10.436/2002, Decree No. 5.626/2005, and Law No. 13.146/2015 —, the study discusses communicational, cultural, and attitudinal access in the context of a historical space. It was observed that, despite the provision of accessible tours, communicational and attitudinal barriers persist that limit the participation of deaf people, highlighting the need for integrated public policies and continuous institutional actions. Therefore, it is concluded that cultural accessibility goes beyond the presence of interpreters, requiring the training of professionals, the sensitization of society, and a commitment to an inclusive culture.