ABSTRACT
Since the late-twentieth century, museums have become increasingly concerned with broadening their audiences and more actively engaging their visitors. Efforts to do this have varied widely, with some museums simply offering entertainment (e.g. concerts, dance parties) to attract more diverse participants, and others creating mission-related exhibitions and activities that seek to appeal to people who may not normally think of museums as places to visit. In part, these efforts stem from a growing need for museums to establish that they serve a public benefit, to provide demonstrable and measurable results of how their work supports the values of society. These activities also result from an understanding among museum professionals that museums are critical to a civil society, and that they can and should be socially responsible and promote principles of equity and excellence. This essay will discuss the principles of diversity and access that underlie museums’ efforts to reach out to broad audiences, review approaches to engaging audiences, briefly explore the ethical ramifications of these efforts, and examine the impact of the digital environment on community-focused engagement.
