MAGDALINI ROUPA
educator, museologist Thesis title: The social role of the Contemporary Museum; the opening to the public and its contribution to the integration of socially excluded people In the recent decades, the growing economical, political, cultural and social changes that occur worldwide, have resulted in an ongoing interest from cultural organizations, such as museums, to cater for […]
educator, museologist
Thesis title: The social role of the Contemporary Museum; the opening to the public and its contribution to the integration of socially excluded people
In the recent decades, the growing economical, political, cultural and social changes that occur worldwide, have resulted in an ongoing interest from cultural organizations, such as museums, to cater for the wide public. To do so, they tend to eliminate barriers as to their access, customize their services and enrich their functions and actions. The modern museum is not limited to the exercise of basic functions (collection, preservation, research, exhibition and interpretation), but it attempts to redefine its social role and purpose, satisfy the needs and interests of the society, to promote intercultural dialogue, social interaction and cohesion, to promote integration policies and to establish itself as the voice of a vision for an inclusive society and as a vehicle for social change and lifelong learning.
This paper attempts to highlight the social responsibility and the social role of the modern museum and its contribution to the promotion of social inclusion of individuals and groups. A thorough study of the greek and foreign literature as long as an internet research, underlines the issue of social exclusion and the role of the museum in its confrontation and the its impact on the individual, the community and society in general. Within this context, we present practices and actions of museums both in Greece and abroad that target groups which are considered at high risk to experience social exclusion or already exist.
The last chapter presents the educational program “I can, you can, we can, if we met in the world of Art” designed and implemented by the architect-museologist Cleopatra Alagialoglou and the museum educator Magdalini Roupa. The program is addressed to children who live or receive support from various institutions and the disabled ones.