Kinsley - Inclusion in museums
Kinsley, R. P. (2016) Inclusion in museums: a matter of social justice. Museum Management and Curatorship, 31(5): 474-490.
The calls for greater inclusion in US museums have become increasingly prominent. The concept of inclusion in museums has existed for a considerable period, with its primary aim perceived as improving public access to museum activities and services. However, despite this focus on inclusion, studies on visitor and employee demographics reveal that the public nature of US museums still predominantly caters to a privileged subset of the population. In this paper, the author argues that inclusion in museums is a matter of social justice. Drawing on Nancy Fraser's two-dimensional social justice theory, the author contends that the current efforts towards inclusion in museums have only partially succeeded due to inadequate attention to recognition and redistribution demands. The paper suggests that achieving the desired outcomes requires a proper appreciation of the justice-oriented aspect of inclusion, which can align with the aspirations of many museum professionals.
Rose Paquet Kinsley “Inclusion in museums: a matter of social justice”