Social Sustainability and the Museum: A Case Study of the Guangdong Museum

The purpose of this study is to understand how museums contribute to social sustainability and the meanings of such contributions. Through a critical review of preceding research across various disciplines examining social sustainability, this study establishes a robust theoretical framework constructed upon four key pillars: social equity, local identity, social inclusion, and social capital. A qualitative case study methodology was employed, selecting the Guangdong Museum in China as the subject of inquiry. Data collection was triangulated through document analysis, direct observation, and semi-structured interviews with fourteen participants. The findings reveal, first, that the Guangdong Museum contributes to the enhancement of social equity by holistically improving physical, economic, and psychological accessibility. Second, regarding the strengthening of local identity, the museum fosters residents' emotional connection and sense of belonging. It achieves this through exhibition planning that skillfully bridges historical traditions with contemporary reinterpretations and future visions. Furthermore, the promotion of social inclusion highlighted the critical importance of structured interaction; intergenerational exchange programs, in particular, recorded high levels of participant satisfaction. Finally, in terms of social capital formation, volunteer programs and citizen advisory committees facilitated the development of bridging networks, contributing to enhanced collaborative problem-solving capacity and community resilience. However, at the same time, structural limitations were also revealed, including the persistence of psychological exclusion, the concealment of real conflicts, biased participation among specific social groups, and the consolidation of middle-class-centered networks. The academic significance of this study lies in understanding the concept of social sustainability within the context of museums’ core activities—such as exhibitions, educational programs, and volunteer work—and in presenting an analytical framework applicable to research on cultural institutions. In particular, this study discusses the extent to which the four elements of social equity, local identity, social integration, and social capital are formed through museums while simultaneously constraining the realization of social sustainability. Based on this discussion, the study suggests that social sustainability through cultural institutions is a complex process in which it is partially produced and simultaneously limited.