Museums and Racism

Focused on the broad field of multicultural policy, Museums and Racism examines how the Immigration Museum in Melbourne, Australia, has responded to political culture and public debate around racism. The opening of The National Museum of Australia in Canberra is also examined in some detail, as a comparison providing broader national social and political context. Message argues that the case studies examined demonstrate the close relationship between museum and exhibition development on the one hand and policy, politics, and public opinion on the other. She widens her argument with brief discussion of comparative examples from the USA and elsewhere.