Museums, Diversity and Inclusion

NEMO empowers museums to foster inclusion, equity, diversity, and wellbeing. We provide tools, good practices, and guidelines for engaging diverse communities, while also advocating for museums as safer spaces where historically underrepresented groups are recognised and can connect to discuss their challenges. In 2024, we have placed particular emphasis on supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals, both among museum staff and audiences.

Help us build a more inclusive resource

Our 'LGBTQIA+ inclusion in European museums: An incomplete guideline' is a work in progress. We invite you to contribute by sharing policies from your country and scenarios of developing more inclusive museums. Your insights will be added to this webpage, enriching this resource for the museum community.

Contributions to our growing resource

NEMO attends European Commission event on mental health and wellbeing

On 18 February 2025, NEMO joined the hybrid Policy Event on Mental Health ‘R&I to promote mental health and prevent/treat mental…

Time to act - Report on accessibility in the arts

The report ‘Time to act’ finds that cultural professionals across Europe often lack the knowledge to ensure equal access for…

New NEMO guide helps museums organise…

In an increasingly polarised world, museums hold a crucial role in fostering dialogue and social cohesion. As trusted institutions, they can provide safe spaces for meaningful discussions on pressing issues such as climate change,…

 

What NEMO does

NEMO aims to ensure that museums are recognised and supported by EU policymakers for their efforts in promoting inclusion, diversity, and social equity by:

  1. Advocating for awareness among museums in the NEMO network about the needs of diverse communities, with a particular focus on LGBTQIA+ individuals in both staffing and audience engagement.
  2. Providing museums across Europe with guidelines and best practice examples for effectively engaging diverse audiences, including LGBTQIA+ groups.
  3. Positioning museums as safe spaces that welcome diverse communities to connect, share experiences, and address challenges, especially in politically sensitive environments.
  4. Promoting cooperation between museums and other stakeholders to strengthen alliances that support inclusion and social equity for all historically underrepresented groups.
  5. Actively collaborating with organisations that advocate for human rights and social equity, ensuring that museums have a unified voice in promoting diversity and inclusion within their communities.

Videos and webinars