Overview

Museums are responsible for sharing and preserving cultural records in an accessible way with and for the communities around them. In the United States, over 100 million people speak languages other than English, yet most museums prioritize solely English. This causes visitors who speak languages other than English to feel othered, ignored, and excluded, hindering their relationships with museums. Museums must dismantle these monolinguistic pillars by committing to language inclusion outside of accessibility. This book addresses reasons to remedy the lack of language inclusivity, explains research-based benefits of multilingualism, and establishes translation guidelines to make museums more equitable and accessible.

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9781538184332

Table of Contents

Reviews

Language Inclusion in Museums warmly invites readers to reimagine museums as vibrant multilingual spaces where every visitor has the potential to feel heard and valued. Drawing on personal experience, research, and real-world case studies, the authors, who know firsthand the transformative power of language inclusion, offer both inspiration and practical strategies. Whether you are just beginning to explore multilingual programming or looking to deepen existing initiatives, this book provides the insights, encouragement, and tools needed to help museums foster genuine belonging for all visitors. -- Laura Evans * PhD, Distinguished Teaching Professor and Director of the Art Museum Education Certificate at the University of North Texas * This groundbreaking work arrives at a pivotal moment in museum history. As Robledo-Allen Yamamoto, Robledo Yamamoto, and Perez astutely observe, museums have undergone a profound transformation--from institutions that once reinforced elite cultural hierarchies to spaces where diverse communities can engage in meaningful dialogue and shared meaning-making. Language Inclusion in Museums provides the essential roadmap for completing this transformation. Every choice about language is simultaneously a choice about inclusion and exclusion--what stories get told, what perspectives are centered, who our institutions are truly for, and who remains on the margins. -- Emily Krichbaum * Assistant Director of the National Women’s History Museum *

Author Information

Asami Robledo-Allen Yamamoto, M.A., is an art educator, doctoral student, and artist advancing equity in museums. Her research focuses on inclusive practices in museums and the preservation of Latino culture. Fuji Robledo Yamamoto, Ph.D., LCSW, is a researcher focused on community-based research, mental health technology, and trauma-informed care. She studied Information Science at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Gabriela Perez, M.A., is a museum professional exploring bilingual programs' impact on underrepresented communities and aiming to empower visitors of all ages.

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