Cultural Diversity: Ethnicity and Race Museums, archives and libraries have an important role to play in promoting knowledge, understanding and value of diverse cultures, faiths and histories. Evidence shows that through their engagement with communities they can foster a sense of identity and racial harmony.
MLA defines cultural diversity as 'diversity based around ethnicity and race' and social justice, identity, community cohesion and social inclusion are some of the key government policy themes that our cultural diversity work seeks to address. Cultural diversity is one of the key themes addressed by MLA's New Directions in Social Policy programme.
MLA is addressing and developing strategies to identify and remove the barriers that prevent those from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds from participating and accessing museums, archives and libraries. Partnership working and community consultation are key to driving this process forward. Examples of cultural diversity activities in museums, libraries and archives: Cultural diversity needs to be prioritised in the business and strategic plans of our sector's institutions. The goal is for cultural diversity to be an integral part of all aspects of an organisation's operation. It needs to be included in their policies, plans, practices, budgets, programmes, exhibitions, collections, management, recruitment and governance.
Cultural diversity is about changing the way an organisation works. Cases for change
Cultural diversity is a dynamic, organic process and initiatives, remedies, strategies and definitions should be reviewed and updated accordingly to embrace and value difference as a matter of course.
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