| Abstract | This essay examines the legacy of colonialism in museums and, in combination with social digitization trends, its impact on current museum attendance trends. Specifically, it discusses the racism and classism integral to the historical development of the museum as an institution, and argues that although these discriminations are significantly less blatant than when museums first developed, their harmful legacy is still present within the special and temporal exhibition strategies curators undertake. The 2012 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts confirms declining museum visitation rates, particularly among traditionally marginalized communities; however, it also demonstrates the potentiality for significant visitation growth from that category. Some museums recognize this and are working towards increased exhibition inclusiveness in line with the central goals of museum work: presenting information to, entertaining, and informing visitors. However, efforts are not widespread. This essay presents a basic plan for beginning the shift towards harnessing traditionally marginalized communities: focusing efforts on youth education, empowering vocal agency among marginalized peoples, and strong community engagement. |
