Unit Summary

This session is the second part of “Why and how feature collections to the public” following Nathalie Bondil’s session on the 14th of February. In this training, a selection of central points from Session 1 are developed and expanded on a theoretical front. As museums continue to rethink and redefine their role and function in contemporary society, what conceptual considerations are required for them to fully endorse their duties in showcasing their collections? How, additionally, does the museum address new ways of enhancing interaction with varied audiences by reflecting on the complexities of inclusivity, multiculturalism, digital technology, and wellbeing? The Louvre Abu Dhabi’s engagement with the concept of universalism will be examined as a case-study, leading to consideration of how this model is implemented through specific museum practices (museography, curatorial decisions, visitor engagement). The complex relationship between digital tools and the materiality of the museum space is then examined in order to return to the question posed in Session 1: how can feature collections promote inclusivity through more advanced forms of engagement and interpretation? The overarching question framing the training is: can the Saadiyat Cultural District become a global leader in re-thinking and promoting new modes of visitor inclusion, through the transformative power of culture and creativity?