This study explores Gen Z's 'participatory engagement' - as opposed to passive consumption - in museum work (Simon 2010), using Latvia as a case study. In response to Soviet subjugation, Latvia adopted a harsh liberalism, resulting in ‘hyper-individualism' (Sommers 2009) and low trust in institutions. Within this context, the study examines, first, what young people expect to gain from engagement with museums and, second, the patterns and attitudes towards participatory engagement that emerge from their experiences. The study is anchored in five museums whose common feature is their engagement of youth aged 15-20. Data was collected, transcribed and thematically analysed from 38 young participants and 11 museum representatives from 2023 to 2024. Data drawn from participants’ prior engagement with museums indicates that youth have high individual expectations from participatory engagement with museums, seeking skills, knowledge and positive emotions, with low expectations for social interactions and non-existent altruistic purposes. Post-engagement data highlight the complexities of participatory engagement. While museums successfully attract and engage Gen Z audiences through skill-building and knowledge-focused activities, they often fall short in cultivating the deeper social bonds envisioned by participatory frameworks. They therefore miss the opportunity to introduce or strengthen the idea of altruism as a necessary value in such an individualistic society.

Drawing on the experiences of three South American museums, this article proposes a relational definition of museum community, grounded in the museum's critical project and understood as a diffuse group of people who are interpellated through identity by its narrative and representational purpose, distinguishing it from both the territory and the visiting public. It explores the intersections between museums and intangible cultural heritage; responding to recent critiques around the ‘museification’ of living heritage, it analyses the opportunities that arise when museums place community-focused perspectives at the centre of their museum practice. The museums studied are the Museo Taller Ferrowhite in Argentina, the Paço do Frevo in Brazil and the Museo del Mate in Chile. Beginning with a conceptual discussion of the notion of community, the article then examines how each museum approaches the preservation and revitalisation of heritage. The experiences of the museums analysed in the case study show how participatory management, anchoring museum activities in the local territory, and offering leading roles to local community members and new generations garner new ways of thinking about the museum as a living space. The article also discusses the challenges facing these initiatives, mainly in relation to tensions over identity and the precarious positions of museums. Finally, it argues that these approaches reinforce the idea of a performative museum: one that remains in dialogue with its community, and with the dynamic forms of the living heritage it seeks to preserve.

This paper explores the historical access children have had to museum archives, how digital archiving processes impact that access today and how future access to archives can bring positive change, with analysis centred primarily around UK-based museums and practice. In the mid-twentieth century, school-age children were sporadically encouraged to access museum archives and collections to do their own research and develop their skills of historical and scientific enquiry. This practice was met with varying levels of enthusiasm and backlash. Students in the present day, typically aged between 11 and 25, are encouraged to use museum online databases to research countries and objects. However, there is limited discussion about how children and young people might be able to contribute to these databases and archives. What if children and young people know more about these objects than is catalogued within the museum? This paper seeks to establish a dialogue between children's research in physical, twentieth-century museum archives and the digital archives of today. Just how accessible are today's museum archives for children and young people? And how does this accessibility compare to that of the past? This paper also aims to explore the future of museum archives and access for children, with potential implications for museum repatriation practice. Current projects - such as ‘Our Shared Cultural Heritage’ - explore topics of contested heritage with young audiences. The success of such projects raises the question of how this work can be expanded in future. After discussing the available literature, this paper explores and collates past and current international practice, drawing on two case studies to highlight innovative work in this area and potential avenues for the future. By highlighting past and current best practices, we can create a framework for engaging young people with research, improving museum engagement and benefiting the communities that these museums serve.

As the climate emergency intensifies, youth-led movements worldwide are pressuring governments and societies to take urgent climate action. However, young people from communities disproportionately impacted by the climate emergency, such as the Caribbean, the Asia-Pacific Islands, and Indigenous communities, remain underrepresented. This article presents two museum-based projects: the University of St Andrews-led Shared Island Stories research project and the International Committee of Museology (ICOFOM)'s global youth workshops. The first uses transnational exchanges between Scotland and Barbados to empower young people as Youth Ambassadors, fostering cultural heritage preservation and climate justice. The second engages youth from 18 countries and territories in museum-based dialogues on climate action aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Current museum policies frequently overlook barriers faced by young people, limiting meaningful engagement and missing critical opportunities to harness their energy and creativity (Kids in Museums 2024; Yates et al. 2022; Madgin et al. 2016). Both initiatives employ participatory action research and critical pedagogy, enhancing young people's skills and positioning them as active participants in climate solutions. These projects illustrate that inclusive museum practices aimed at amplifying youth voices are essential for achieving climate justice and fostering sustainable, equitable futures.

This study explores the role of youth-centred approaches in the revival of traditional Iranian games to preserve intangible cultural heritage, examining their significance with regards to cultural identity and social cohesion. Traditional Iranian games, vital components of the nation's intangible heritage, are facing challenges from urbanisation, lifestyle changes and technological advancements. Using a qualitative and multidisciplinary methodology, this research investigates the socio-cultural dimensions of these games and their potential for intergenerational connection and cultural sustainability. It employs a descriptive-explanatory approach, complemented by comparative analysis to contextualise traditional Iranian games within broader cultural traditions. Data collection methods include library studies, case studies and ethnographic observations. Case studies on prominent games such as Chogan, chess and backgammon highlight their intergenerational significance and adaptability to technological integration. Ethnographic observations during cultural ceremonies and workshops document gameplay and social interactions. Data analysis employed qualitative content analysis, coding and comparative methods, focusing on themes such as cultural authenticity, the role of technology and intergenerational interactions. Challenges included limited access to historical sources and technological shifts, while findings emphasise the importance of collaborative efforts among governmental bodies, museums, communities and cultural experts to leverage youth engagement and technological tools in revitalising traditional games. This multidisciplinary framework demonstrates how traditional Iranian games can serve as a sustainable bridge between heritage preservation and modern innovation.

This article examines museums' shift away from traditional custodial roles to become institutions of social dialogue and transformation, with a particular focus on their efforts to engage younger audiences through participatory and socially relevant strategies. Using the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam as a case study, the article explores the museum's diversity strategies and development of the Point of View exhibition, which addressed gender and representation while also involving young people as co-creators. Drawing on visitor data and qualitative insights around inclusive public spaces, as well as on critical museology and international cultural policies, the study assesses the exhibition as a paradigmatic example within the museum's broader institutional policies. The findings highlight both the success of these initiatives, demonstrating how diverisity policies and younger audiences are interconnected, and the potential of museums to act as agents of inclusion and cultural change, while also acknowledging the structural and perceptual challenges that remain.

This paper explores the innovative practices of Milele Museum in Rwanda, focusing on the integration of digital technologies into cultural heritage preservation and youth engagement. Central to this exploration is the Ubutabire Programme, a pioneering initiative that deploys virtual reality (VR), 3D scanning and digital storytelling to deepen the connection between young Rwandans and their cultural legacy. By examining the methodologies and impacts of the Ubutabire Programme through a detailed case study, the paper highlights how digital tools are employed to transform traditional museum experiences into interactive, educational journeys that resonate across diverse audiences. The research underscores the museum's commitment to using digital platforms not only for preservation but also for the active dissemination of cultural narratives. The programme's success is evident in its ability to engage youth in meaningful conversations about their heritage, empowering them with the skills to contribute to ongoing cultural dialogues. Additionally, the study examines the broader implications of these digital practices for global cultural institutions, suggesting that such technologies can effectively address challenges like accessibility, relevance and engagement in the digital age. By situating the Milele Museum's efforts within the wider context of global museum practices, the paper argues for a proactive approach to cultural heritage preservation that embraces technological innovation. The findings advocate for museums worldwide to consider similar strategies to enhance their educational outreach and preservation efforts, thereby ensuring that cultural heritage remains a vibrant and integral part of contemporary society.

Digital transformation has profoundly impacted the cultural sector, altering both the creation and distribution of content as well as audience habits and practices. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated this transition, pushing museums to adapt their communication strategies to attract new audiences, particularly Generation Z - defined as those born between 1997 and 2012 (Pew Research Center 2019). In this context, TikTok has emerged as a key tool for connecting with this demographic, whose consumption of digital content is characterised by dynamic, fragmented and interactive practices. This international study analyses the strategies of the three museums with the highest number of followers on TikTok − The Sacramento History Museum, located in Sacramento, California, USA; the Black Country Living Museum, in Dudley, United Kingdom; and The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), in New York, USA − to understand how they generate engagement, establish valuable relationships and encourage in-person visits from Generation Z. The selection of these institutions is based not only on their follower counts, but also on the impact their strategies have on their digital audiences and on the institutions themselves: an aspect that has been scarcely explored in previous studies. Through a mixed-methods approach combining content analysis, interviews with museums' digital communication managers and an evaluation of key indicators on Social Blade, this research identifies essential factors for engaging Generation Z, such as creativity, authenticity and adaptation to trends. The findings reveal that TikTok not only amplifies museums' visibility but also redefines their role in the digital ecosystem, fostering closer and more interactive communication with young audiences. This case study not only provides new perspectives on the use of TikTok in the museum sector but also proposes a methodology for analysing its impact, laying the groundwork for future research in digital cultural communication.