ABSTRACT
Museums and Racism examines the development of the Immigration Museum in Melbourne in context of contemporary developments in social and cultural policy fields around multiculturalism and debates about racism and hate speech in Australia. The mismatch of language and moral parameters raises complex challenges for museums, particularly those with a remit to represent national identity. The relationship between the Immigration Museum as a site of contact between political agencies and instruments and public experience and opinion was also a central focus for the creators of the museum. This chapter outlines the key features of the argument that extend through the chapters that follow, and positions the study in context of the field of contemporary museum studies. Heterogeneity and diversity became key features of exhibitions associated with museums adopting social inclusion and cultural diversity ideals or policies through this period globally, which influenced changes in the ways many museums reflected identity.
