MUSEUS NA CONTEMPORANEIDADE ENTRE PRESERVAÇÃO, EDUCAÇÃO E LAZER COMO ESPAÇOS DE CIDADANIA

Abstract

This study addressed the educational and social role of museums in contemporary times, considering their historical evolution, conceptual and epistemological transformations, and the impact of these changes on cultural mediation practices. The general objective was to analyze how museums, traditionally focused on preserving collections, began to integrate educational, leisure, and social interaction dimensions, establishing themselves as spaces of culture and citizenship. Specific objectives included understanding the historical evolution of the museum institution, investigating the role of mediation in the dialogue between collection and public, and identifying innovative educational practices that foster access democratization and active visitor participation.

The research employed a qualitative methodology, of an exploratory and descriptive nature, based on a bibliographic review. Relevant authors in the fields of museology and education were consulted, along with institutional documents and cultural guidelines. The analysis of the theoretical framework allowed us to verify that educational mediation is a central element for bringing museums and the public closer, as it broadens the understanding of exhibitions, stimulates critical thinking, and enables visitors to attribute new meanings to the displayed works and objects. It was observed that interactive and dialogical practices, grounded in visitor participation, contribute to the democratization of the museum space, favoring both leisure and learning dimensions. It was also found that incorporating playful and multimedia resources into educational actions enhances the public's experience, making it more inclusive and accessible to different age groups and sociocultural profiles.It was concluded that, currently, the museum is not limited to being a repository of cultural assets but acts as an active agent of social transformation, promoting encounters, exchanges, and processes of collective knowledge construction. The results showed that a balanced articulation between preservation, education, and leisure is essential for the museum to fulfill its social and cultural function, solidifying itself as a living, participatory space committed to diversity and cultural plurality.