ABSTRACT

The Inclusive Museum defies any definition. Defining is containing. A genuine inclusive discourse has multiple voices, multiple intersections and a complex nexus of cultural and stakeholder communities. It is not about defining or consensus. It is about the relational and processual aspects of the museum and museological discourse and acting on the symbolism present to work towards a dynamic equilibrium, bringing together people and their heritage. It is about understanding and practising shared authority. It is an open-ended project that is delineated and re-delineated by the primary, secondary and tertiary knowledge communities. It bridges the emic and etic through mutual respect. It promotes understanding of histories with both diachronic and synchronic perspectives, through digital and face-to-face participation. Several themes or pathways inform the inclusive processes of the museum. Select emerging themes are shared below as cross-cutting considerations.