Eleventh International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

Emotional, attitudinal, sensory, physical, and intellectual access are all interdependent parts of forging an accessible museum for disabled and underrepresented audiences. Inattentiveness to one or more strand will negatively impact the success of this objective. Accessible museum programming for disabled audiences, though critical, is not sufficient in itself in creating a culture of inclusion. Crucially, positioning inclusive design at the heart of the museum process, including permanent and temporary galleries, capital projects and commercial spaces, is also an essential component to successfully embedding access best practice for the widest possible audience. In the UK, the Equality Act 2010 and Part M building regulations have supported substantive developments in achieving this objective. Drawing from London’s Natural History Museum, an institution which positions accessibility as a core value, this study sets out the NHM’s Inclusive Design Strategy, which in recent years has resulted in embedding this objective sustainably and meaningfully across all new exhibitions and capital projects.