The project responds to the latest turn in museum theory that emphasizes social engagement as the central concern and has manifested in the recent initiative of the International Council of Museums to change the definition of the museum, to include obligation for museums to work with the participation of communities. Inspired by the theoretical framework of “participatory engagement” by museologist Nina Simon, the project aims to study determinants, patterns and consequences of participatory engagement dynamics in the museum sector through inquiry into one more museums’ core function – museum education. The study will identify determinants of the advancement of participation from museum perspective and by applying participatory action research methodology – from the perspective of communities of practice as well as will reveal broader imprint to lives of engaged communities, to museums and in a wider cultural or socio-political contexts, by (1) mapping museum education programmes in museums in Latvia and identifying  determinants that shape or constrain museums to strive towards participatory engagement, (2) by studying dominant patterns and attitudes towards participatory engagement in museum education and qualitative markers that reveal advancement of particular relationships from the perspective of communities of practice in Latvia, and (3) by analysing social and cultural imprint of identified participatory engagement practices in a wider socio-political environment.

Baiba Tjarve (Project Leader),

Maija Spuriņa (Lead project participant),

Liene Ozoliņa (Lead project participant),

Anda Laķe (Lead project participant),

Gints Klāsons (Project participant),

Līga Vinogradova (Project participant),

Elīna Vikmane (Student project participant),

Maija Ņikitina (Student project participant),

Laura Brutāne (Student project participant),

Lote Katrīna Cērpa (Student project participant).