Twelfth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

Museums face competing priorities every day: the mantle as the authority on our content; the responsibility to our constituents to provide compelling and entertaining experiences; the imperative to expand and diversify our audience; the obligation to our Board and stakeholders for sustainability. How do we balance these disparate responsibilities without losing sight of our mission and the communities we are committed to serving? By examining the messaging we use and the programs we offer, this study considers how to balance these priorities. Coming from different corners of the museum world - a hands-on children’s museum and a military history education center - we uncover ways to address our common challenges.