This thesis looks at what “participation” really means in museums—not just as a project outcome, but as everyday work carried out by museum professionals. Based on ethnographic research at Fisksätra Museum (Sweden) and the Museum Europäischer Kulturen (Germany), the study shows that participation is less about one-off events and more about ongoing practices of organisation, negotiation, and maintenance.
Zwart highlights how museum staff sustain participation by managing resources, planning activities, and engaging audiences, while also navigating institutional rules and expectations. Emotional and affective work are also central, shaping how participants connect with cultural heritage but also creating challenges.
The thesis argues that participation should be seen as a practice-based infrastructure—something built and maintained across projects, institutions, and contexts—rather than as a fixed goal. This perspective helps explain how museums can genuinely support democratic engagement with their audiences.
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