Conference Program

According to the last International Council of Museums (ICOM) definition of 2022, museums are: «Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, [fostering] diversity and sustainability. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing»[1].

Although lagging significantly behind the international scene, in recent years Italian museums embraced the themes of accessibility, critical thinking and contemporary social issues from an intersectional perspective. This theoretical alignment is usually reflected in the exhibition topics. However, the incorporation of this perspective is most often the responsibility of the Education Department, which manages relations with the public. Measuring a museum's social impact involves creating a genuine dialogue between the public and the institution, as well as promoting a governance model that responds as much as possible to the public's needs, both as a community to which the museum belongs and as a community it represents. The aim of this ongoing research project is to explore the reasons behind and the foundations of the creation of the Museum of Impact Framework, and to investigate whether and how Italian museums incorporate the theme of social impact. Based on the tool’s glossary, an interview framework will be developed and presented to a sample of education departments in Italian museums located across different geographical areas, starting with those specializing in contemporary art.

[1] Italics by the author