The Expanding Roles of Museums

At the beginning of the symposium, Mami Kataoka, Director of the NCAR, introduced NCAR's achievements in the first year since its establishment and discussed the new definition of museums adopted at the 2022 International Council of Museums (ICOM*) conference. The new definition states that "Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing.” As this statement indicates, museums are being redefined as institutions that not only engage in traditional activities but also connect with contemporary society and become more accessible to a wider range of people. Following this definition, Kataoka emphasized the need to re-examine how museums can explore their ideal form in light of the obligation for all businesses to provide reasonable accommodation under the revised Act on Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, which came into effect in April 2024. She noted that this symposium would provide an opportunity for such discussion.

What is "Reasonable Accommodation"?

Chikako Suzuki, a curator of NCAR Learning, and Shunsuke Ito, a visiting research fellow, then gave a presentation on the purpose of the symposium. NCAR has been promoting initiatives to improve accessibility to museums for everyone to enjoy art, including the publication of "Social Story: My First Art Museum Visit" to help people maily with developmental disabilities better navigate activities, "Let’s Enjoy the Museum Collection in Sign Language," and the "“The Handbook of Reasonable Accommodation, Learning from the Cases in Museums”." They then revisited what "reasonable accommodation" means, drawing from the contents of the handbook.

What is Reasonable Accommodation Through Dialogue?

Reflection (Review and Exchange of Opinions)

The reflection was conducted as a review of the first half of the symposium. Attendees were grouped randomly into teams of four, where each person wrote down the key-points that particularly stood out to them from the case studies or any actions they felt they could personally implement on cards. Based on these notes, they exchanged opinions with others in their group. The participants included not only museum and gallery staff but also employees of various organizations, educators, representatives of disability organizations, and individuals with disabilities. The exchange of opinions was lively, providing a valuable opportunity for participants to share their challenges and practical examples.

Panel Discussion: “What is the Key to Reasonable Accommodation Through Dialogue?”

In the second half, a panel discussion titled “What is the Key to Reasonable Accommodation Through Dialogue?” was held. The session began with remarks from Katsuhiko Hibino, President of Tokyo University of the Arts and Chair of the Expert Council for Enhancing Artistic and Cultural Activities for People with Disabilities. Hibino shared his thoughts on the earlier discussions, stating, “There may be differences between the general understanding of accessibility and reasonable accommodation in museums. Museums, in particular, can play a more pioneering role and contribute to raising awareness across society.” He also emphasized the importance of the excitement and curiosity that stem from the desire to see art, as it holds the fundamental question of “What is art?” within it.

Next, several opinions from cards written by participants at the reflection part were introduced. Attendees highlighted the ideas that “art has the power to embrace differences” and that “we come to understand others through art.” Many found the dialogue, on equal terms, between museums and individuals with disabilities in each case study to be inspiring.

Takayuki Mitsushima, whose personal story in "Case Study 1" resonated with many, pointed out that the term “reasonable accommodation” itself can feel vague, insufficient, and even authoritative. He stressed the importance of creating spaces where people can converse on equal terms, rather than the relationship of provider and recipient. Mitsushima also underscored the need for proactive approaches from individuals with disabilities. Additionally, he mentioned the importance of collaboration between museums and educational settings, creating environments which inspire people to want to go to museums.

Go Kurihara, who has participated in the Mori Art Museum’s sign language tours for nearly ten years, transitioned from being a participant to helping organize the program. He shared that through art, he has learned the importance of understanding others. However, he also pointed out that even among people with the same disability, capabilities and needs vary from person to person, and there can never be a perfect “reasonable accommodation” from the start. Therefore, it is crucial for institutions to openly accept feedback and continually improve.

Yumiko Shibazaki from ABLE ART JAPAN, reflecting on 30 years of activity, expressed her deep appreciation for NCAR as a public institution, now hosting such discussions. She highlighted the lack of voices from individuals with disabilities as the greatest challenge. Shibazaki emphasized the need for developing storytellers from this community and fostering leaders from various regions through personnel training. When asked about what museums should strive for, she responded, “There are no simple or easy shortcuts. Progress takes time, and it’s important to move forward in sync with those we are working with.”

The discussion also touched on organizational structure of museums. In response, the director of NCAR Mami Kataoka stated, “Accessibility and 'reasonable accommodation' are often assigned to the education department, but these should not be managed by a single department alone; all relevant personnel should be involved and respond collaboratively. The mandate for reasonable accommodation should not be seen as just a rule but as an ongoing dialogue. I believe that words like imagination, and dialogue with love will resonate more deeply.”

In response, Hibino remarked, “The ‘art’ and the word ‘reasonable’ are fundamentally at odds with each other, but the term “reasonable accommodation” as it’s used now, has emerged as part of the process of pursuing even greater accessibility. As museums continue to evolve with the times, the words we use will also change. Since the role of museums differs depending on their location and community, the implementation of reasonable accommodation will vary across museums. However, the key is how each museum will proceed to evolve from where they currently stand. Long-term improvements in diversity within education and personnel training in each region will lead to a more reasonable approach over time, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.

Conclusion

Through the three case studies and discussions, we not only gained insights from the experiences and perspectives of the organizations and individuals directly involved in these initiatives but also deepened our understanding of the relationship between individuals and museums. The discussion highlighted shared challenges in the implementation of reasonable accommodation by bringing together the issues recognized by various stakeholders. These challenges go beyond individual or institutional concerns, emphasizing the need for personnel development, education, and the care of society as a whole. It was reaffirmed that the practice of reasonable accommodation in museums is closely tied to the realization of a more inclusive society, and it contributes to enhancing the social value of art.

Summary of Symposium - Revisiting the Concept of “Reasonable Accommodation”

During this symposium, lively discussions were held from various angles, addressing how museums, businesses, and individuals should understand and promote the concept of "reasonable accommodation" as well as the revised laws. Although this term is still unfamiliar to the general public, as well as to both business operators and individuals, continuous dialogue is essential to ensure that everyone can access to the resources museums offer. Among the words most frequently mentioned on the reflection cards submitted by participants were "dialogue," "listening," and "participation." As these words suggest, the key to improving accessibility in museums lies in listening to the opinions of those involved, exchanging ideas, and taking action through ongoing participation. This symposium reaffirmed the importance of these principles in considering museum accessibility.