Museums as social and cultural spaces for active ageing: evidence, challenges, and opportunities

Oscar Gerardo Hernández Lara,Benjamin Toney

doi:10.22234/recu.20210901.e588

Abstract

The work addresses access to Museums as cultural spaces by older adults in Mexico. The access, use, and knowledge they have regarding museums are analyzed. The analysis is carried out by rural or urban origin, travel time, gender, education levels, among other variables. The database used is the Museum Statistics for 2017 published by INEGI in 2018 and the method used consisted of crossing variables. The National Statistical Directory of Economic Units database was accessed to cross-check statistical information with georeferenced points of museums throughout the country. The work adds two different dimensions of study, 1) to the studies of aging and old age, when verifying the mobility, cultural interests and social connectivity of the elderly and, 2) to the studies on museums and cultural spaces, by demonstrating the persistence of access and interest on the part of older adults.

Highlights

The context of the new wine geographies Roughly 10% of the population of Mexico is over the age of sixty – and the gross number can be expected to continue to increase as age cohorts age
Social and Personal Dimensions of Museum Use In the context of active ageing (WHO, 2002; Fernández-Ballesteros et al, 2013; Rowe & Kahn 2015; Fernández-Mayoralas et al, 2015, ILC, 2015), social activity and connectedness are vital for health and daily life issues for the elderly
We investigated social dimensions of museum use with the following questions: with whom do older adults go to museums? What motivates them to go to a museum? Is it to accompany somebody or for personal reasons and interests? Do they have established preferences to visit museums? By what means do older adults find out about the existence of museums or exhibitions?

Summary

Introduction

The context of the new wine geographies Roughly 10% of the population of Mexico is over the age of sixty – and the gross number can be expected to continue to increase as age cohorts age This demographic group increased from 3.5% to 10.4% of the total population between 1900 and 2015 when they reached 12 million, a momentous demographic shift in age distribution. The data show how older adults can make use of museums relative to younger adults, and in turn, raises important questions for designing programs and institutions that effectively support Active Ageing. Based on the patterns observed, Museum Institutions may consider specialized programs and service considerations to support active ageing functions to attract older patrons and create spaces that older adults can use to increase their active aging and social connectedness.

Method of Discovery

Discussion and Conclusion

Bibliographic References