Citizenship and Museum Workers: a comparative study of Scotland, England and Wales

Abstract

Citizenship has always been linked to culture andtherefore of concern to cultural services. There hasbeen a historical connection between culturalpolicy and a ‘civilising mission'. In recent years,policy expectations placed on cultural institutionshave gone beyond ‘traditional' cultural objectives,to include anything from tackling social exclusionto creating wider societal change. In regards topolicy this has included, as Gray puts it, ‘more orless anything else up to and including planning thekitchen sink.'  Museums in particular have beencalled upon to encourage citizenship through ideasof social justice and belonging, amidst ongoingdebates on citizenship, inclusion and identity.