Assessing community engagement in museums and post-museums in Malta and their learning outcomes

Abstract

Museums have been recognized as instrumental pedagogical tools in the cultural field for some time now. This information has caught the attention of academics and institutions alike, and have thus analysed this in both theory and practice, at great length. This dissertation intends to explore the relationship between the community and the museums within a Maltese context. It also questions and dissects the possible reason behind the disinterest of non-museum goers and their apathy towards culture and the arts. By means of qualitative research, I will be assessing the extent at which museums in Malta are engaging with their surrounding communities, and wider audiences too, along with the frameworks and ideologies used to achieve this. Through the cross-referencing of personal interviews carried out with nine museum case-studies in Malta and Gozo, distinctions between state institutions, ecclesial museums and post-museum spaces have emerged. As part of the conducted fieldwork, a practicum within the Valletta community also took place. Here, ten members of the community engaged with public history by means of archival photographs, captured by Guido Stilon, and made accessible by Magna Żmien. The exhibition entitled From Where I Stand, that took place last year, June 2021, invited each individual the opportunity to connect and reflect on a photo, select and then convey their thoughts and share their narrative attached to the interpretation of that said photo. Whilst engaging with these focus group members and exploring their cultural identity, the exhibition succeeded in engaging with a much wider community than envisioned. As a result of these focus groups and museum interviews, socio-political and economic issues were also brought to light. Thus, this research also aims at exploring how arts and culture can assist with improving the wellbeing of the community and the attitude to think critically, reflect and possibly challenge these social issues present today.