Caring exhibitions

Integrating care theory in museum practices and curatorship in Southern Europe

Bibliographic Data

ID7928577
AuthorsAna Ferriols (0000-0002-8175-2882, Universitat Politècnica de València, corresponding author), Paula Santiago (0000-0001-7170-9007, Universitat Politècnica de València)
Year2026
Volume41
Issue1
Pages38-56
Publication date2026-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueMuseum Management and Curatorship (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0964-7775 • E-ISSN: 1872-9185
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09647775.2025.2583519
OpenAlexW4416259414
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited11

This article explores the role of care in art museums: What defines a caring cultural institution? How can caring measures be effectively implemented? To address these questions, it draws on research conducted with art museum employees and independent curators in Spain, Italy, France and Portugal, focusing on their professional practices in relation to care. The article highlights the diverse ways in which care is integrated into cultural practices, both at practical and methodological levels, while also identifying the challenges these initiatives face. Findings reveal that education and mediation departments, along with independent curators, play a pivotal role in implementing care-related practices. By doing so, they promote greater inclusivity in cultural access and foster meaningful connections with local communities. However, the article also points to structural limitations within institutions that hinder the broader adoption of care-based methodologies, suggesting the need for changes to align institutional practices with the values of care

Ethnography · Grounded theory · Qualitative research · Semi-structured interview · Museums and Cultural Heritage · Oral History, Memory, Narrative Analysis · Participatory Visual Research Methods

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