Developing Socially Inclusive Art Museums

This study examines the role of museums in communities as arbiters of social inclusion. It seeks to compel the need for museums to become community-centric in order to broaden their audience to all community members, increase their relevancy, and fulfill their requirements as non-profit institutions. This research examines how social inclusion and exclusion enters the museum, resistance to and support of social inclusion in museums, and challenges to becoming more socially inclusive. This study concludes with recommendations on researching and evaluating community needs, building social inclusion internally, utilizing advisory councils, and creating socially inclusive programming. A series of examples and case studies of museums working towards building social inclusion are used to illustrate ideas and recommendations.