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PARQUE DE LA EXPOSICIÓN IS ACCESSIBLE THANKS TO CULTURAYMI
All the booths and stages of the Lima 2019 cultural festival are connected by roads, ramps and signage paddles that allow people with an impairment to move freely. This incredible event is being held at the same time as the sports competitions.
As well as all the Lima 2019 sports facilities, our historical Parque de la Exposición–now the Culturaymi venue–is also a walkable and accessible place for people with an impairment. Any visitor, without exception, can walk through the different booths and stages of the park that are connected by ramps and halls.
Culturaymi combines all the sports world effervescence with the diversity and richness of the Peruvian culture. Only on its opening day, over 18,000 people–all of ages and physical conditions–visited its booths.
The Lima 2019 Accessible Signage Manual outlines the accessibility standards for the design of the signage and spatial orientation components that must be displayed in all Lima 2019 venues. Therefore, apart from communication roads between booths, there are access ramps, elevated platforms for wheelchair-users, signage in each zone, as well as ten totems with information in Spanish, English, Quechua and braille code.
One of the guest artists for the opening concert of this festival was Josimar. During the event that took place on July 30, he showed a sign of closeness to the impaired public that was watching the show from an elevated platform. The salsa singer got off the stage to greet them and take a photo with them.
Lima 2019 was a unique opportunity for Peru, as it allowed the country to create an inclusive infrastructure, adapt it to the highest international accessibility standards, and raise awareness among the citizens.
Impaired Artists
But Culturaymi is not only about the impaired public. Nine entrepreneurial artisans with an impairment also participate in this cultural festival as representatives of the SINUTRADIS Association, a national union for impaired workers. You can find their booth in the “Milco Zone”.
Félix Espinoza (62) is a painter and was born without forearms. He is part of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, just like the Peruvian Para swimmer and artist Dunia Felices, who will compete at the Parapan American Games. “She’s studied in Bellas Artes and other institutes. She’s really talented. I always tell her to keep going because pursuing an art career is difficult and requires a lot of effort. You have to be persistent,” revealed Félix about Dunia. Besides, Félix is the father of the Nicole Espinoza, an artistic gymnast who will represent Peru in the Pan American Games. “Even if she fell or hurts herself, she’d keep going. Sometimes she’d removed the plaster to keep training,” he said.
Diana Fuentes (47) got burned when she was two and had her hand amputated. She now knits layettes for babies with a stick and a crochet. You can buy her designs in the booths. “Culturaymi is very interesting. It gives us the opportunity to showcase our abilities and demonstrate that we can be useful to our families,” she mentioned.
Cristina Falcón (39) has had polio since she was nine months old. She makes ecofriendly bags, with designs and embroideries, now that plastic bags are prohibited to protect the environment. “Lima 2019 has given us an opportunity as an association. People from all over the country have come here,” she said.