Institutional culture and the work of human rights in Canadian museums

This paper examines the limits, challenges, and benefits to working with community partners on human rights related issues in different types of museums in Canada. Drawing from interviews conducted with heritage professionals from across Canada, this research finds the institutional culture of smaller gallery spaces provides the most fertile atmosphere for rights-related community project development. This success results from the combination of the institutional ethos being connected directly to the needs of the community, a focus on small-scale exhibitions, and a high degree of interdepartmental communication that takes place in smaller working environments.