Twelfth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

While diversity and inclusion efforts in museums have been prioritized in recent years, disability remains marginalized in this arena, with efforts often focused solely on accessibility. To be truly inclusive, museums must also embrace the perspectives and experiences of people with disabilities. Revising approaches to interpretation of museum collections is central to this shift. Crip The Met is an initiative begun last year, supported by funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs’ Create NYC Disability Forward Fund. This ongoing work brings together disability studies scholars, art historians, artists, museum curators and educators, and audiences to examine The Met’s collection through the lens of disability and to develop and pilot guidance supporting the inclusion of disability in museum interpretation, including labels and other texts, education programming, digital, and other content. This study describes the process, findings, and next steps of this ongoing work.