The audit leading to the report was conducted in August 2024 and focused on the desktop versions of the assessed museum websites. Key user pathways, such as selecting a visit date and purchasing tickets, were reviewed, alongside the responsiveness of each site.
Despite growing awareness of the importance of digital accessibility, the report shows that implementation of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) remains inconsistent across the sample. One of the main findings is the overall accessibility level of only 54%. Among the 17 museums evaluated 8 museums did not provide text alternatives for images. Text alternatives are essential for users relying on screen readers and form a core requirement of the WCAG framework.
The "Digital Accessibility Report of European Museums" highlights several common barriers affecting the accessibility and usability of the assessed websites:
- Disrupted heading hierarchy, which hinders navigation for screen reader users.
- Missing landmarks, reducing clarity in page structure.
- Insufficient link context, making it difficult for users to understand the purpose of links without additional explanation.
As many museum websites undergo frequent updates, some issues identified may have been addressed since the evaluation. Nonetheless, the findings offer a useful indication of current sector-wide performance.
