The public at the heart of the design of the Terrorism Memorial Museum

Even before opening its doors, the MMT wishes to involve its future visitors in its design. This is the aim of the visitor committee initiative that the GIP-MMT team intends to set up in the run-up to the opening.

A tried-and-tested method in the museum world

Visitor committees – or focus groups – are participatory workshops bringing together a panel of people from diverse backgrounds: local residents, families, teachers, professionals from the social or cultural sectors, and people with disabilities. This method is widely used by major museum institutions. It allows museum-related decisions to be tested against the views of the public before they are finalised. To prepare for this initiative, the MMT consulted eight museums and four specialist agencies between April and July 2025.

Test, adjust, design better

These committees have two objectives. They provide a better understanding of the MMT’s future visitors: understanding their perceptions of terrorism, their expectations of such a venue, and what they hope to find or experience there. They also enable specific elements of the project to be subjected to their critical scrutiny: the coherence of the main exhibition route, the comprehensibility of certain texts or content, the reception of sensitive documents or images, the clarity of digital interfaces, the accessibility of educational resources, and certain museographic and scenographic choices. Feedback from participants informs the team’s decisions and enables adjustments to be made to the choices made before the exhibits are finalised.

A phased approach, aligned with the production schedule

The first workshops are scheduled for autumn 2026, following a preparatory phase set to begin in the spring. From 2026 until the museum opens, several committees will meet in succession as the project progresses. Some will focus on the overall structure of the visitor journey, others on specific installations, and others still on digital mediation, the family experience or accessibility tools. Focus groups may also be convened based on specific themes: teachers, families, childcare professionals, and disability specialists.

Whilst the museum retains sole decision-making authority over its content, it is committed to reporting back to participants on how their feedback will be incorporated. Indeed, the MMT team regards visitors’ input as a valuable resource for creating a space that truly lives up to what it aims to convey.