ABSTRACT
Belonging is a basic human need that affects our health and well-being. Community social spaces have an important role to play in supporting opportunities to belong. The extent to which these spaces are inclusive and welcoming is salient, particularly when it comes to supporting belonging for people who are prone to exclusion. While we may not readily recognize museums as spaces of belonging, this chapter encourages readers to think differently about museums, and other unconventional spaces of community, and consider their potential as welcoming and inviting social spaces. In this chapter, I draw from research I conducted at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) to highlight the museum’s open and accessible approach to welcoming and supporting a diverse mix of people to participate in their programming. The research findings suggest that when individuals are invited and supported to participate with regularity, feelings of comfort, familiarity, and belonging can surface over time.
