Identify the assets and deficits of museum-community engagement as we have experienced it in Los Angeles. Mainstream museums are adept at appearing to be community centered through tokenism. The degree and sincerity of community interaction influences the degree of community use and ownership. The partners and the target audiences are often the usual suspects. There's not much evidence of innovation or risk taking.
Museums do want to change, and they do want to be relevant.
Sustainability of collaborative efforts is often elusive. Take action that yields solutions in the form of real, sustainable partnerships. Participants talked about assets and limitations that affect the quality of museum-community partnership. Working in small groups, participants imagined museums that are community-centered institutions. Plans for further dialogue are under way in Los Angeles.