Siloed inclusivity: risk, representation and debate in national museums

This paper argues that risk-aversion produces siloed inclusivity, where multiple perspectives coexist without dialogue. Drawing on the New Museology, which positioned museums as forums for debate, it interrogates whether these aspirations are realised in practice. Using the Australian National Maritime Museum's Encounters 2020 programme, the paper explores how national museums negotiate the ideal of fostering participation and debate against pragmatic demands of governance, funding, and public expectations of neutrality. Analysis, through the lens of agonistic engagement, reveals that while diverse viewpoints were represented, they were rarely allowed to interact. Instead, the museum distanced itself from contentious narratives and tightly controlled conditions for dialogue. Findings underscore a critical tension: the desire to appear inclusive while avoiding the unpredictability of conflict. Framing inclusivity as representation rather than interaction risks undermining museums’ potential as civic spaces for debate. The paper calls for renewed commitment to move inclusivity beyond representation towards meaningful engagement.