Vaidehi Savnal - Speaker

Impact of the Museum Experience on Underserved Communities

Curator, Education and Public Programmes, CSMVS Mumbai

Abstract:

Nearly 65% of India’s population is under the age of 35 — a generation in a critical phase of learning, identity-building, and connection with heritage. At the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai, the mission is clear: to offer an inclusive, objective, and tangible experience of history, beyond what is filtered through digital or popular media.

In this session, Vaidehi Savnal presents how CSMVS reaches rural and underserved audiences through its flagship initiatives Museum on Wheels and Trunk Museum. These mobile outreach programmes engage over 300,000 people annually, bringing curatorial and educational experiences directly to schools, villages, and community spaces.

The talk explores how object-based learning, critical thinking, and immersive engagement can empower communities, expand access to cultural heritage, and foster meaningful connections that go beyond the museum’s walls.

About Vaidehi:

Vaidehi Savnal (she/her) is Curator of Education and Public Programmes at CSMVS Mumbai, where she leads the museum’s learning, outreach, and audience engagement initiatives. She also serves as Core Faculty for the Postgraduate Diploma in Museology and Conservation affiliated with the University of Mumbai.

Her work includes leading the Children’s Museum, developing the museum’s Museum on Wheels and Trunk Museum outreach projects, and curating both independent and collaborative exhibitions with partners such as the British Museum, Getty Foundation, British Library, and Rijksmuseum.

Vaidehi has co-curated major shows including Ancient Sculptures: India, Egypt, Assyria, Greece, Rome, and Traversing Tibet: Through the Lens of Li Gotami. She has also authored several books for young audiences and contributed to national and international journals. Her practice combines storytelling, interpretation, and education to create accessible and inclusive museum experiences that foster well-being and cultural connection.

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📅 17–19 June, 2025