Welcome to the Glass Age

153 C 10. Museums and Society T eresa M edici ulture in all its expressions is an essential element in improving and developing the life and the well-being of people. Among cultural institutions, museums play a strategic role in making cities and communities inclusive, safe, and sustainable. Museums are places where tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment is preserved, studied, exhibited, and communicated for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment [2]. Receiving the name from the Museion , “the seat of the Muses”, a cultural institute active during the third century BCE in Alexandria (Egypt), modern museums were mainly created to preserve and exhibit heritage, generate cultural awareness, and promote education. Over time, their goal has become more complex to also include training The most frequent figures given to estimate the number of museums in the world indicate that there are some 50 to 60,000 institutions worldwide [1]. and lifelong learning, and there is growing evidence that they can contribute positively to social cohesion and integration, civic engagement, health and well-being. Supporting the architectural and social development of cities and rural areas, museums can sustain the societies to face changes. They can stimulate creativity, increase cultural diversity, regenerate the local economy, attract visitors, and generate incomes. Even if the origin of museums is rooted in western society and culture, most communities worldwide host museums and recognize them as a tool for empowering people by providing resources for learning and developing skills, enhancing the quality of life, and offering space for sharing ideas in a safe, inclusive and accessible environment.