Trends, Innovations, and Challenges in Adult Learning in Museums

Comparative Research in Baranya County (Hungary) and Görlitz District (Germany)

Abstract

The study provides an overview of the current social role of museums and, by exploring key innovations in museum learning, identifies the prevailing trends in adult learning in museums today. In recent decades, museums have taken on new roles in serving society. In addition to knowledge transfer, museums have come to play a key role in supporting visitors' mental well-being, reducing isolation, and promoting social inclusion. Today, museums not only respond to societal needs but also increasingly involve adults in the field of dissemination, including the creation of exhibitions, the organization of museum programs and the implementation of various community projects. Following an overview of international trends in adult learning in museums, this study presents the findings of a comparative, empirical research project conducted by the author between October 2022 and January 2023. Using stratified sampling, the research was carried out in 26 museums in Baranya County, Hungary, and the Görlitz District, Saxony, focusing on the role of these institutions in strengthening resilience.