Enhancing Community Engagement and Diversity at the Horniman Museum
The award winning Horniman Museum in Forest Hill engaged with the programme with the aim of improving its events, community involvement, and staff diversity.
The programme’s emphasis on paid placements for local individuals aligned with the Horniman Museum’s vision to foster inclusivity, diversify its audience, and engage with the community on a deeper level. Placements were focused on the further development and delivery of the Museum’s community-led workshops, in alignment with the museum’s strategy to reach a broader audience base, thereby enhancing the public programme’s reach.
Participants on the placements learned useful skills and helped the Museum understand the community better. Seeing the success of these projects, the Horniman Museum is thinking about starting its own similar programme. The Museum will continue to work with three of the people who participated, possibly hiring them for freelance work later.
In summary, the Horniman Museum’s involvement with the Inspire Lewisham Programme was a big step forward. By offering paid work, the museum improved its connection with the community, brought in a more diverse group of workers, and contributed to making the museum industry more welcoming to everyone. This partnership reached its goals and laid the groundwork for ongoing community involvement and growth.
