Fourteenth International Conference on the Inclusive Museum

Abstract

Social inclusion is a crucial concept in several disciplines, including Museum Studies. This paper describes the different theories of social inclusion, especially in connection with museum education. By reviewing the current relevant literature, this talk explores how inclusion problems are tackled in the field of museum education. Empirical articles written in three languages (English, Spanish and Portuguese) are examined. This study analyzes the conceptual bases and effectiveness of different types of inclusive museum programs reported in publications. The articles and programs are classified in four categories: learning, community engagement, training/internship, and health/therapy. The category of learning refers to museum programs in which visitors learn different skills. Community engagement includes programs in which the objective is to invite and engage diverse specific groups of visitors in museum spaces and activities. The training/internship category concerns programs focused on university training, internships, and museum personnel training. The category health/therapy includes articles analyzing programs directed to people with dementia or Alzheimer disease. On the basis of this review, I discuss the interconnectivity among the four categories, and the positive impacts of programs on the target groups. Finally, I propose an outline of social inclusion issues that require further research and museum programs.