Museums and immigrant communities: effective public programming

In this thesis, the challenges that American museums face when engaging immigrant groups through public programs were examined. The historic exclusion of marginalized and immigrant groups by museums has affected how such groups and broader society view museums. As museums begin to shift toward a more visitor-centered model, it is important to examine how museums develop, implement, and evaluate programs designed to engage immigrant groups. A literature review and four case studies were conducted, followed by a final chapter that outlines key practices that should be in place when working with immigrant populations, and that presents three main conclusions concerning museum programming involving immigrant groups. It is concluded that museums seeking to serve immigrant populations must hire diverse staff and include people of color on their boards, that museums must collaborate with established community groups to implement programs, and that museums must strive to make meaningful connections with immigrant communities.