ABSTRACT
Slowly but surely, an ever-broadening vision is emerging of the nature and potential of museums in society. Fuelled by both financial and ethical necessity, museum workers internationally are boldly proclaiming a critical role for museums in facilitating social inclusion, and their power as agents of change. On what basis? Even an hour of casual observation reveals the many ends to which visitors use museums: for social bonding, reminiscence, relaxation, and more. A burgeoning body of visitor research confirms the depth of feeling and range of needs that visitors bring to the museum experience (e.g. Annis 1974; Silverman 1990). Utilising this knowledge, museums are learning to work with, and not against, that which people need, want, and do. Having noticed what can happen in and because of museums, more and more writers in the field are positioning museums as facilitators of experience and/or beneficial outcome for as many different people as possible (Prentice 1996; Doering 1999; Kotler 1999; Wells and Loomis 1998).
