1. Equitable and inclusive

Museums should be inclusive spaces, where everyone is valued and treated equitably and with respect.

Museums and those who work in and with them should:

• provide public access to and meaningful engagement with collections
• build equitable relationships with communities
• be respectful and have cultural awareness when working with communities, collections and workforce
• value their workforce.

How to uphold the principle

Museums and those who work in and with them should:

Empowering audiences and communities

1.1 Build equitable relationships with communities and audiences based on respect and mutual benefit. Seek a diverse range of people and stakeholders to bring a wide variety of perspectives and insight to all areas of museum work.

1.2 Find ways to support everyone to participate in museums, recognising the barriers to access experienced by some individuals and communities. Work with communities to overcome the challenges of poverty and exclusion and to achieve equality of outcomes.

1.3 Promote diversity and equity by fostering understanding and good relations between people of different identities and beliefs. Embrace an approach that is anti-discriminatory, anti-racist and anti-ableist.

1.4 Value different forms of knowledge and knowledge production and recognise that narratives have multiple perspectives. Be a place where people can come together to learn and exchange ideas.

Managing people, money and organisations

1.5 Value the workforce, including staff, volunteers and freelancers, by ensuring fair pay, benefits and conditions. Foster a positive workplace culture to promote wellbeing. Consider using MA workforce guidance to inform practice.

1.6 Commit to workforce diversity to improve the work of the museum and better represent the communities the museum serves.

Empowering collections

1.7 Ensure collections are documented, stored, handled and displayed respectfully, taking account of the cultural sensitivities of related communities.

1.8 Be understanding of different religious, spiritual, and cultural perspectives when working with collections, particularly human remains and sacred items.

1.9 Strive to make collections representative of and relevant to the communities the museum serves, taking account of community groups that have been historically excluded.

1.10 When researching and documenting collections, acknowledge a range of perspectives and expertise, especially those that have been systemically excluded.