There has been an explosion of museum and heritage activity across Asia, especially in China, where audience development and public education have been made a government priority for museums. Public participation is already well established, for example in Singapore and Korea, but is little documented and reviewed for a wider audience in Asia and beyond. This practical handbook examines and critiques these developments and asks how best practice can match the specific needs of diverse Asian cultures and societies.
Written by practitioners, this book brings together a range of regional examples of innovative practice and new initiatives, which address shared themes and challenges for museums, galleries, community projects and heritage sites across Asia. It focuses on public programmes, exhibitions, education and media and seeks to provide a critical framework that is both sensitive to Asian contexts and alert to western museologies and critical practice. It covers everything from policy, governance, funding, recruitment and training, through audience development and inclusion, to education and exhibitions, and using media and performance. Other topics include collaborations and partnerships, volunteering, marketing, social media, evaluation and income generation.
