Eleventh International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

In the year 2006 I was given a job to establish the first Monetary Museum of Pakistan by the Central Bank. It was a great challenge but at the same time very interesting and close to my heart. I wanted a museum which should be a place of activity, engaging visitors with their surroundings, contemporary life, and history. I wanted to promote diverse visitors and be fully inclusive. I believe we are accountable to communities. Museums are not just for acquiring collections, conserving objects, and creating exhibits. All this is possible only when the visitors engage themselves and the curator has the role of a skilled advisor and member of the world outside. Museums are no longer judged by their internal resources (collections, endowments, facilities, and staff), but rather by external benefits and the value they create for the individuals and communities. The audience of State Bank Museum is the public, teachers, students (from primary level), diplomats, communities, differently-abled visitors, and foundations/NGO. The museum is multilingual and multi ethnic. It is the only museum in the country which is fully accessible, including photographic workshops. Special outreach programs give workshops all over the country. This paper discusses how museums can reach out to the public, in a country where priority is not museums or education, highlighting how the museum plays an important role in educating and bringing pride to younger generations.