Cultural Rights and Social Inclusion

Reflections on the Engagement of Refugee Communities in Egyptian Museums

Bibliographic Data

ID21309776
AuthorsNevine Nizar Zakaria (0000-0002-2224-3666, Museology Department Würzburg University Germany, corresponding author), Heba Alders (Aswan Museum, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Aswan Egypt)
Year2026
Volume69
Issue1
Pages57-79
Publication date2026-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCurator The Museum Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0011-3069 • E-ISSN: 2151-6952
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/cura.70002
OpenAlexW4413175955
LanguageEN
References cited36

In recent decades, Egypt has been a place of refuge for many individuals fleeing political upheaval, including Sudanese, Syrian, Yemeni, Iraqi, and Palestinian communities. The influx of Sudanese refugees since 2023 has further increased the country's refugee population. Yet, despite their growing presence, Egyptian museums have largely overlooked the stories, heritage, and experiences of refugees in their exhibitions and programs. This paper addresses this gap by exploring how Egyptian museums could advance social inclusion of refugee communities and support their cultural rights. Grounded in human rights frameworks and informed by museum practices from both the Global North and the Global South, the study employs a qualitative approach, drawing on in‐depth interviews with museum professionals from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and individuals from refugee communities. It examines perceptions of the current lack of tailored initiatives and investigates how museums can foster intercultural understanding, promote social engagement, and help reduce inequalities in refugees' participation in cultural life. The findings reveal critical barriers rooted in institutional priorities, limited resources, and broader sociopolitical dynamics that often hinder their cultural inclusion, but also highlight emerging awareness among museum professionals of the need to engage marginalized groups. The paper proposes practical strategies for Egyptian museums to move beyond their traditional agendas by developing sustainable initiatives—such as co‐created exhibitions, intercultural workshops, and collaborations with refugee organizations—that amplify refugees' voices and promote shared values of diversity and inclusion

Community engagement · Inclusion (mineral) · Media studies · Political science · Public relations · Refugee · Sociology · Archaeological Research and Protection · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation · Gender Studies · Law · Memory, Trauma, and Commemoration

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