The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice (NOSPR) is committed to ensuring the accessibility of the website of the Karol Szymanowski International Music Competition in accordance with the Act of 4 April 2019 on the digital accessibility of websites and mobile applications of public entities.

This statement applies to the Competition website.

Website publication date: 4.08.2026
Statement preparation date: 4.08.2026
Date of the last review of the statement: 4.08.2026

Digital accessibility status

The website of the Karol Szymanowski International Music Competition is currently being redeveloped. We are making every effort to ensure that it complies with the digital accessibility requirements set out in the Act on Digital Accessibility and with the WCAG 2.1 standard at level AA.
During the development of the website, some elements may not yet be fully accessible. They will be adapted progressively.
This statement was prepared on the basis of a self-assessment carried out by the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice.

Accessibility of the application process

The Competition application process has been designed to ensure the broadest possible accessibility.
If you encounter difficulties completing the application form, submitting the required documents or materials, or using the website, please contact the organiser. We will provide support and — in justified cases — the possibility of submitting documents by alternative means.
Auditions and accompanying events take place at two locations:

1. Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice — Plac Wojciecha Kilara 1, 40-202 Katowice
2. The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice — ul. Zacisze 3, 40-025 Katowice

Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice

Access and parking

The area around the building of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice is adapted to the needs of people with disabilities. Pavements and paths are on one level, without thresholds.
The Culture Zone has car parks with clearly marked spaces for people with disabilities, located as close as possible to the main entrance.
People with disabilities and their carers may leave their car in front of the main entrance for a maximum of 3 minutes in order to purchase tickets, make a reservation or comfortably enter the event, and then park the vehicle in the car park.

Building entrances

The building entrances are accessible from ground level.
On both sides of the building there are entrances with revolving and traditional doors. Buttons for opening the traditional doors are located by the entrances.
The floor surfaces are level, with no differences in height. Lifts are available for wheelchair users, providing convenient vertical movement between floors.

Ticket offices

The ticket offices are located on level 0, near the main entrance.
The ticket offices do not have a lowered counter. 
Ticket office staff provide support to people with disabilities and give them priority service.

Cloakrooms

The cloakrooms are located on level 0 near the ticket offices and on level 1 next to the entrance to the chamber hall.
They are adapted for leaving wheelchairs and luggage.
The cloakrooms do not have a lowered counter.
Cloakroom staff and ushers help people with disabilities to use the cloakroom comfortably and to move to the concert halls.

Restaurant and bookshop

There is a bookshop on level 0, which provides service for people with special needs. 
The restaurant is located on level 1 and can be reached both from the NOSPR corridor and from outside the building. The premises are accessible and allow for comfortable movement.

Toilets

Toilets accessible for people with disabilities are located on each floor next to the general-access toilets.
A Changing Places toilet is not available in the building.

Parent and child room

A room for a carer with a child is located on level 1, close to the toilets. The room is equipped with a baby changing table.

Concert halls

Concert Hall (large)

In the auditorium of the large concert hall there are 6 spaces for wheelchair users and their companions. The spaces are located on the ground-floor level on both sides of the auditorium, in the central part of the amphitheatre, opposite the stage.

Chamber Hall

The chamber hall provides 4 spaces for wheelchair users on level 1. They are accessed directly from that floor.

Recording complex

The recording complex, located below ground-floor level, is equipped with a vertical platform lift providing access for wheelchair users.

Staff support

Ticket office and cloakroom staff, ushers and security staff provide assistance to people with disabilities. These visitors receive priority service and can rely on assistance in moving around the building and entering concerts.

Support for people with hearing disabilities

At NOSPR in Katowice, sign language interpretation is not available, either on site or online.

The building does, however, have a system supporting people who are hard of hearing. It uses an infrared signal, which means it is stable and not disturbed by other lighting or wireless devices. The system used at NOSPR is BOSCH Integrus.

Which devices make up the system?

• INT-TX04 modulator,
• LBB4512/00 infrared radiator,
• LBB4540/04 receiver,
• LBB3441/10 headphones,
• HDP-ILN induction loop.

Detailed information about the accessibility of the NOSPR building is available on the NOSPR website.

The Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice

Accessibility of the building entrance and passing through control areas

The main entrance from Zacisze Street is only for able-bodied visitors.
Entry to the first floor of the building for people with mobility impairments is possible via a lift located in the building at 33 Wojewódzka Street.

Accessibility of corridors, stairs and lifts

No lift. It is possible to move around in a wheelchair within the first floor.

Types of adaptations inside the building

Parking spaces designated for people with disabilities and how to use them

Next to the building there are general-access parking spaces for people with mobility impairments, along Zacisze Street.

Entry with an assistance dog

You may enter the building with an assistance dog or a guide dog.

Sign language interpreter

There is no sign language interpreter in the building, nor the possibility of using an online interpreter service. The building has no Braille markings, nor contrast or large-print markings for blind and visually impaired people.

Detailed information about the accessibility of the building is available on the Academy of Music website.

Information and communication accessibility          

 

People with special needs may contact the organiser before arriving at the Competition to obtain information about the accessibility of events and to report individual needs.

If you need additional support during your participation in the Competition, please inform us as early as possible. We will make every effort to provide reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the event.

Contact

For matters relating to the accessibility of the website or participation in the Competition, please contact us at: e-mail: info@szymanowski-competition.com              

Contact person:

Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice
Zuzanna Stach, Accessibility Coordinator
Phone: 0048 506 926 609
e-mail: z.stach@nospr.org.pl

Reporting accessibility problems

Everyone has the right to report a problem concerning the accessibility of the website or the organisation of the Competition.
A report should include:

• the contact details of the person making the report,
• a description of the problem,
• the preferred method of contact and – if possible – a proposed convenient solution.

We will respond to the report without undue delay.

Additional information

Information about the Competition programme will be published progressively on the website as it develops.

If you need information that has not yet been published, we encourage you to contact the Competition Office: info@szymanowski-competition.com.