Introduction
We will now start to look at the Manifesto in more detail, beginning with the first three principles:
- Cultural rights and cultural democracy – Access to and participation in culture is a basic human right. Everyone has a right to representation and agency in museums, and communities should have the power to decide how they engage.
- Social justice – Museums have a responsibility to work with their communities to overcome the challenges of poverty and exclusion and to achieve equality of outcomes.
- Activism – Museums are not neutral. Museum activism should be based on listening, acting and delivering with our communities.
Each of these principles play a central role in building practice which works towards social impact and change.
The Manifesto gives an explanation of what each principle involves, offering a range of approaches to develop your practice. These key ideas can support you in advocating for the value of this work within learning and engagement, and across your museum as a whole.
By exploring each principle in turn, you will have the chance to reflect on your practice, review examples of the principles being delivered and look at how you can create change.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this section you will:
- Understand how the principles of cultural rights and democracy, social justice and activism can underpin learning and engagement practice.
- Be aware of good practice in these areas.
- Be able to advocate for the value of these principles in your work.