Museums are institutions that collect, preserve, study, and display objects and ideas to help people understand art, history, science, and culture. They range from small local galleries to large national institutions and serve many functions: safeguarding artifacts, supporting research, providing education, and offering public programs. Museums mediate between specialists and the general public by interpreting complex material in accessible ways. Their collections often reflect the communities that created them as well as broader global connections; exhibitions can be chronological, thematic, or experimental. Beyond exhibitions, many museums host lectures, workshops, digital resources, and outreach to schools, showing how museums operate as hubs for lifelong learning and civic engagement.
