Abstract:
The museum field is making efforts to become more community oriented and open to all of their stakeholders. This research is a case study of the Wing Luke Asian Museum, in Seattle, and their exhibit development policy, named, the Community-Based Exhibition Model. The museum’s policy is an example of a participatory museum program that
involves specific communities in the work of the museum. The model’s purpose is to
increase museum access and allow specific communities the opportunity for self-interpretation
in the resulting exhibits. The research is developed from a review of
literature, site visits to the museum, participation in the process of the model, and from my
dialogue with former and current museum staff and community participants.