Open Museum Conference
Re-imagining museums as human-centered
30 March 2022
What does it mean to be an inclusive institution? What happens when we focus on the people in the museums? Why are some non-visitors avoiding the museum? Why should the front desk be involved in the museum’s decision-making? How does one choose partners that fit with the museums’ values?
On 30 March at TOUR A PLOMB, the annual Open Museum Conference offered a moment to re-imagine the human side of museums. Through practices designed around empathy & continuous introspection, our speakers demonstrated the benefits of polyphonic perspectives in all facets of cultural institutions.
Developing further last year’s perspective on “safer spaces”, this year’s conference focused specifically on museums’ personnel, partnerships, and publics through inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility ideals.
Watch our videos below as we dissect these ideas and learn from inclusive museal practices already in place.
Speakers:
Roy Sjoers – Operations Officer ‑ Specialist (neuro)diversity and inclusion for the Museum van de Geest
Loredana Marchi – Director of the Foyer association and the MigratieMuseumMigration, nominated for the European Museum of the Year Awards 2022
Sanchou Kiansumba – Education and Training Team of Collectif mémoire coloniale et lutte contre les discriminations (CMCLD)
Marie Darah – Slam Poet, 2021 European Champion Slam Poetry
Annelies Baes – Diversity consultant, Diversity Department, Actiris
Kris Vlaeminck – Manager public activities and education Train World, Train World
Manuelina Duarte – Professor of Museology at the University of Liège and a board member of the ICOFOM LAC (ICOM International Committee for Museology for Latin America and the Caribbean).
Yamina El Atlassi – BOZAR, President of the Board of Directors of Brussels Museums will host a panel discussion with other museum professionals. Participants will be announced soon.
We will also present the results of our Think Tank and reflection sessions on the current challenges museums face in terms of their staff, their partnerships, and the audiences they host.
An engaged initiative of Brussels Museums
