Social inclusion in museums and visual disabilities: The State Tactile Museum Omero of Ancona

bjectives. This study analyzes the new role of museums which aims at a greater social inclusion and at an active involvement of a wider audience, including non-visitors. The focus is on people with visual impairment and on how museums make themselves accessible to this audience and on the museum experience of different types of visitors. Methodology. Social inclusion in museums, with particular attention to the visually impaired people, is analyzed in the case of the State Tactile Museum of Ancona using secondary and primary data collected from multiple sources of case evidence (Yin, 2014) through qualitative methods and tools analysis in the period November 2020 and January 2021. Findings. In addition to solutions involving and engaging visually impaired visitors, the results show large participation of the so-called central audience and of occasional visitors too. The museum offers an escapist experience where the audience has an active role and is completely involved in the visit. Research limits. This exploratory study shows limits that can be overcome by analyzing a larger sample of museums and a larger number of people who have visited the museum to delve into various aspects of the museum experience and be able to better frame the visitor type. Practical implications. The study offers a dashboard of solutions and best practices that adds to the broader international debate to make the museum experience accessible to a wider audience, breaking down not only physical barriers but also sensory and cognitive ones. Originality of the study. This research offers an exploratory contribution to the international debate on greater social inclusion in places of cultural interest such as museums. Leveraging interactions between museum collection, audience, and management is the key to providing a full experience to all kinds of visitors.