In her latest blog post ‘Following up on Ferguson’, Gretchen Jennings mentions that several museum people told her that they had been specifically forbidden from answering visitor questions or commenting on social media about Ferguson [1]. Having worked in local authority museums in the UK and knowing from my work here as a consultant the … Continue reading Have museums already become irrelevant?
Tag: audience development
Museums and Political Debate, Or: Why I Need You To Take A Stance
Over recent months, living as an immigrant in Britain [1], I have gone through a process that leaves me feeling increasingly alienated from museums and heritage sites in this country. In still-used museum discourse terms, I'm probably becoming one of the ‘hard-to-reach’. I feel let down by British museums. You see, these days, I daily … Continue reading Museums and Political Debate, Or: Why I Need You To Take A Stance
What is the purpose of museums?
Early in December last year, the British Museums Association issued an exciting research brief. They want to find out what the public think of the present and potential purposes of museums, and their roles in society.I am really looking forward to this research report, which is due at the end of March. Crucially, the research … Continue reading What is the purpose of museums?
Actually, it’s interpretation. Or: What’s in a job title?
In a few weeks I will start in a new role. This time around, my job title will be Audience Development Manager. Oddly enough, although my past, current and future responsibilities are largely the same (interpretation), I’ve never had the same job title twice. What troubles me about this is that even within our profession … Continue reading Actually, it’s interpretation. Or: What’s in a job title?