Community involvement in Museum Exhibitions

Abstract

This project is about the participation of communities in museum exhibitions in Africa. The study has surveyed the depths of community involvement in museum exhibitions in Africa and has come up with recommendations on how to maximize the participation of communities in the whole process of exhibition development in museums, from concept building to actualization. The objectives of the study were to assess the role of communities in museum exhibitions in Africa; to establish the depths of community involvement in exhibition development; to identify the reasons affecting community participation in exhibitions; and to recommend strategies to maximize community stake in exhibitions. The study subjects were African museum professionals, museum (consultants) experts and members of the Banjul community who took part in a community-powered exhibition put up at the Gambia National Museum, Banjul, in June 2002, which is the case study for this project. The study used self administered questionnaires, key informants interviews and secondary library, and online material to gather data for analysis. The data revealed that there is an acute lack of community involvement in exhibitions due mainly to the lack of exhibition and community participation policies in African museums, poor publicity of museum activities and irregular exhibitions to name afew. My recommendations to maximize community input in exhibitions include formulating of clear policies for community involvement in museum activities, strengthening of museum-community consultations and regular assessment of community needs by museums