Museums and Cultural Diversity: A Persistent Challenge (original) (raw)
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The Chester Beatty Library is a unique art museum and library situated in the centre of Dublin. Its uniqueness derives from the collection, which in an Irish context is one-of-a-kind. The Library’s rich collection is from across Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Through its exhibitions and learning programmes Irish people and new multi-ethnic communities can share and discover diverse cultures as represented in the collections. Intercultural dialogue and learning plays a key role in the Library’s mission and encourages visitors to compare, contrast and explore the historical, cultural, scientific and religious aspects of its collections. This work was celebrated in 2014 Museums as Places for Intercultural Dialogue and Learning seminar in the Library. This paper looks at the dramatic changes in Ireland through migration in the past fifteen years and how the Library actively engages with diverse communities through its programmes. • What is cultural diversity and why should museums become involved? • How can museums get started to work with culturally diverse audiences? • How can collections be used to promote cultural diversity? • How can museums identify cultural diverse communities in the locality? • How can museums plan and deliver a suitable project? • How can museums integrate cultural diversity into their core services? • How can museums evaluate and sustain culturally diverse projects? • Is there funding?