Cultural (Non) Participation and Loneliness: A Study on Non-publics of Museums in Turin

Since the latest International Council of Museums definition defines museums as "institutions in the service of society", it becomes essential to ask which society the museums are addressing. Today, in many European countries, only a quarter of the population visits museums at least once a year. We often know information about them, such as their age, gender, social class, educational level, and expectations and needs they look for in a museum visit. On the other hand, we know very little about those who "remain outside museums", represented by very heterogeneous segments of society which should nevertheless be a concern by museums if they seek to be truly "open to the public, accessible and inclusive" (ICOM 2022). Thanks to the collaboration of numerous civic centers in Turin, this ongoing research is investigating perceptions, ideas, and experiences, as well as barriers and difficulties in visiting museums, to relate aspects of the museums’ experience to relational and emotional loneliness. A questionnaire is being administered to reach vulnerable people to better understand their actual relationship (or distance) with museums. Through the questionnaire results, the paper will provide new stimuli and directions for further research, aimed at making museums more aware of and sensitive in their cultural offers to the variety of people’s needs, and at the same time, enriching forms of collaboration and co-planning between museums and associations.