Van Der Stad, Sarah Gratia2007-12-102007-12-102007-12https://hdl.handle.net/1794/5354103 p. Examining committee chair: Dr. Janice RutherfordMuseums are critical agents of civic engagement. While many museum professionals do not ignore this particular role, they often assign it a fairly low priority. This Master's thesis investigates the community role of four art museums in urban areas of the Pacific Northwest and seeks to understand how museums engage their communities by exploring the tools and methods they employ. Current scholarship suggests that trust and inclusion are essential for engagement to occur among community members. Museums build trust and promote inclusion by providing safe spaces for discussions and debate. A museum’s leadership, mission, and exhibition philosophy are primary indicators of its inclination towards engagement. This study promotes museums as forums for public discourse and, in doing so, contributes to sustainable community development by recommending improved museum practice and policy.217064 bytesapplication/pdfen-USArt museums -- Northwest, PacificArt museums and community -- Northwest, PacificThesis