The Provincial Archaeological Museum of Alicante (MARQ) is a pioneering institution that combines heritage, research, and social action in a firm commitment to inclusion and accessibility. Conceived as a meeting space, MARQ is an innovative museum that brings heritage closer to all audiences. Its philosophy is based on transforming the museum into a place open to learning, dialogue, and participation, where heritage becomes a tool for social cohesion and community development.
History of Awarded Projects: Justification, Objectives, and Goals
The MARQ Foundation has promoted a series of programs aimed at making the museum an accessible, participatory, and meaningful space for different social groups. These initiatives seek not only to improve physical access to the museum but also to generate transformative cultural experiences that respond to the needs of diverse audiences.
EMPOWER PARENTS adapts a model from the Queens Museum in New York, focused on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. Supported by the ICO Foundation and the Empower organization, the program offers eight sensory and experiential sessions every Friday and Saturday, designed to foster cultural inclusion. Families interact with the museum as a safe space to explore, express themselves, and share experiences. The program encourages autonomous access to culture and strengthens community ties.
MARQ +65 (ASAUTE) is aimed at older adults, in collaboration with the Senior Citizens’ Classrooms of Alicante, emphasizing the importance of active aging. Sessions are held every Friday from October to June and include guided visits to MARQ's permanent and temporary exhibitions, talks on history and archaeology, experimental workshops, and visits to archaeological sites, monuments, and iconic locations in Alicante. The project promotes cultural participation, enhances interpersonal relationships, and allows seniors to rediscover their city and heritage from an enriching and personal perspective.
Museum and Memory against Alzheimer’s is an innovative program in collaboration with AFA Alicante (Association of Families with Alzheimer’s). It is designed for people in early to moderate stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The program includes nine visits to MARQ and nine complementary sessions at AFA's headquarters. During museum visits, MARQ opens exclusively for program users, creating a calm environment. Archaeological objects serve as tools to stimulate memory, emotional recall, and creativity. The program has shown improvements in participants’ mood and perceived quality of life. It has recently been adapted for the dementia unit at San Vicente del Raspeig Hospital (Alicante), in collaboration with its neurology team, with whom new programs for people with Alzheimer’s are being developed.
A Fairytale Hospital is a program in collaboration with the Pediatrics Department of Alicante General University Hospital and the Hospital Pedagogical Unit, aimed at long-term child patients with chronic conditions. Each edition is structured around a specific historical period featured in MARQ’s permanent or temporary exhibitions and concludes with the creation of an illustrated storybook by hospitalized children. The book is sold in the MARQ shop, and proceeds go to childhood cancer research. In addition to its educational value, the program helps make hospital stays more bearable and maintains a vital connection to culture.
Return with a New Story is a program developed in collaboration with Alicante Penitentiary Center, aimed at fostering cultural accessibility for incarcerated individuals. Educational sessions on history, archaeology, and heritage are held inside the facility and are complemented by themed workshops and talks with notable figures from the cultural sector. These sessions are followed, when permissions allow, by visits to the museum. This initiative supports social reintegration, boosts self-esteem, and provides new opportunities for learning and personal reflection.
History without Barriers is a program aimed at people with intellectual disabilities who are students at the APSA training center. It includes classroom-based training sessions combined with hands-on workshops and visits to the museum, archaeological sites, and monuments. The program aims to foster an interest in history and archaeology, encourage creativity, and promote reflection on cultural coexistence throughout time. The museum becomes a space for inclusion, dialogue, and learning.
Conception, Support, and Philosophy
The programs have been conceived by the Didactics Unit, Club Llumiq, Accessibility and Social Responsibility of the MARQ CV Foundation, in collaboration with public and private entities. Each program is developed through a networked work model that integrates specialized human resources, strategic partnerships, institutional support, and a strong ethical commitment.
The common philosophy is clear: culture must be an accessible right for all. Through active listening, methodological adaptation, and a human-centered approach, MARQ becomes a tool to strengthen the social fabric and offer new possibilities for learning, well-being, and participation.
Innovative and Distinctive Elements
MARQ stands out for its adaptability and creativity in designing unique educational experiences. Innovative aspects include: solidarity storybooks illustrated by hospitalized children, museum visits on closed days for vulnerable groups, intergenerational programs, and memory sessions linked to heritage. These initiatives integrate emotional, educational, and social dimensions, making the museum an inclusive environment.
Human Resources and Experience
These programs would not be possible without the interdisciplinary work of MARQ’s staff: educators, archaeologists, accessibility technicians, and cultural mediators. Alongside professionals from partner entities, they form a committed, sensitive, and socially transformative team.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
Challenges include inter-institutional coordination, managing groups with diverse needs, and impact assessment. However, these challenges have become opportunities for continuous learning. Flexibility, ongoing staff training, and strong collaboration between organizations have been key to overcoming obstacles.
Recommendations for Other Programs
We encourage other cultural institutions to work from a place of empathy, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and seek solid partnerships. MARQ's experience demonstrates that opening museum doors to everyone not only enriches the visitors but also strengthens the institution itself.
Other Programs and Educational Initiatives
In addition to the aforementioned programs, MARQ develops an extensive educational offering through several lines of action:
School Program: With workshop-visits adapted to all educational levels, reinforcing the school curriculum through heritage. Activities include excavation simulations, work with archaeological sources, and participatory dynamics. These take place not only in the museum but also at the archaeological sites and monuments under MARQ’s management. The museum collaborates with nearly 920 educational centers in the Province of Alicante.
Educational Materials: The Didactics Unit has produced over 190 publications for teachers and students of all levels, including Easy Reading and Pictogram versions, supporting inclusive education.
Educational Projects: Initiatives such as “MARQ Tales,” “aMARQdrina a Piece,” “aMARQdrina an Archaeological Site,” and “A MARQ of Numbers” involve over 25,000 students. These projects promote research, cooperative work, and creativity.
Teacher Training: Certified courses are offered for teachers, encouraging the educational use of heritage and the development of innovative classroom strategies.
Non-formal Education: Club Llumiq, with over 13,000 members, organizes activities for children and families throughout the year.