How can you create a welcoming and inclusive museum environment?

1 Assess your current situation

Before you can make any changes, you need to understand your current museum environment and how it affects your visitors. You can start by conducting a self-audit of your museum's policies, practices, and programs. Ask yourself questions such as: Who are your target audiences and how do you reach them? How do you ensure that your exhibits and collections reflect diverse voices and stories? How do you accommodate visitors with different needs and preferences? How do you measure and evaluate your impact on diversity and inclusion? You can also gather feedback from your staff, volunteers, partners, and visitors to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

2 Involve your community

One of the best ways to create a welcoming and inclusive museum environment is to involve your community in the process. You can do this by building relationships with local organizations, groups, and individuals that represent diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences. You can invite them to collaborate with you on developing, implementing, and reviewing museum education programs and activities. You can also create opportunities for them to share their stories, perspectives, and feedback with you and other visitors. By involving your community, you can ensure that your museum education is relevant, responsive, and respectful to their needs and expectations.

3 Adapt your content and delivery

Another way to create a welcoming and inclusive museum environment is to adapt your content and delivery to suit different learning styles, abilities, and preferences. You can do this by using multiple formats, media, and languages to present your information and messages. You can also provide options for visitors to access, interact, and engage with your exhibits and collections. For example, you can offer audio guides, subtitles, captions, transcripts, sign language, braille, tactile models, or alternative texts for visitors with hearing or visual impairments. You can also provide hands-on activities, games, quizzes, or challenges for visitors who prefer active or experiential learning.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?