A local project invited me to write an article on culture for an imaginary newspaper in 2030. It got me thinking about what I hope (German) museums will be like then [1]. Here are my thoughts.   In 2030, as soon as I step through the doors of a museum, it is clear that this … Continue reading Imagining Museums in 2030 →

The German Museum Association has recently published guidelines on ‘Working Professionally in a Museum’. The guidelines are intended as a snapshot of current roles in museums. What the guidelines also reveal, however, is a continued imbalance between the focus on collections and museums as institutions for the public.   On one hand, the guidelines acknowledge … Continue reading ‘Working professionally’: Thoughts on new museum guidelines →

Since my return to Germany, I have been on many guided tours that have truly made me want to weep with frustration. I’ve had guides who held lengthy monologues; guides who asked not a single question to get to know their audience; guides who talked about things that were nowhere in sight.   I could … Continue reading Back to Basics, Or: A few Do’s, and mostly Don’t’s, of Guiding Tours →

You know that you’ve been to a fantastic conference when it stays with you for some time afterwards. That is the case with me and the recently ended Interpret Europe conference on ‘Engaging with diversity’. I would like to share some impressions, ranging from the conference location to papers to a General Assembly that has … Continue reading Review: The Interpret Europe Conference 2019 →

Members of staff have recently returned from the last of the training weeks that are part of The Promised Land project on inclusion of refugees and migrants through cultural practice. One of them reported on a method of facilitation that was used throughout the week, which she called ‘Deep Democracy’. She described it as a … Continue reading Deep Democracy as Agonistic Interpretive Practice? →

A few days ago, the German Museum Association published guidelines on visitor research, which I was honoured to contribute to. This experience of thinking specifically about the aims and advantages of doing visitor research then combined with another recent experience to further sharpen a thought that’s been with me for some time about what museums … Continue reading Visitor Research and the Purposes of Museums →

At work, we have just completed an architectural design competition. What makes a good design for a museum building has consequently been on my mind for quite some time.   Of course, to a large degree, the answer depends on the case in question. There are certain requirements that are unique to each project, stemming … Continue reading Museum (as) Space →

Last December, I finally took the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC with the specific purpose of visiting its museums. I was particularly looking forward to seeing the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) which opened in 2016. Here are some thoughts and observations that I’ve had during and since my visit. … Continue reading Representation Matters: Thoughts on Visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture, DC →