Today we bring you a special Incluseum edition of Taboo. This edition focuses on words commonly used in museums that are also highly coded (take on meanings based on context and association that are implied and not explicit). These words have positive connotations in the field, which means that associating ourselves with them marks our institutions and practices positively. Every museum wants to deliver positive social value and provide access to the community, right? However, when the implicit meanings and associations of these words go unaddressed or unspoken–we lose chances to address challenges directly and make change strategically/contextually. For example, casual use of the term community can fail to make clear who is or is not being considered as falling under that label.

Use the Direction Sheet and Cards provided here to play. Take the challenge!