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Curating change: a study of activism in museums
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Date
2024
Authors
Allen, Shauna Lee
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University College Cork
Published Version
Abstract
Assertions like “Museums Change Lives” (Museums Association 2013) and “Museums Are Not Neutral” (Autry 2017) are rooted in a belief that museums should inspire respect and understanding and positively impact their communities. Complementary to this, an increasing number of people believe museums have a role to play in responding to current events and social discord. As a result, a growing number of museums are addressing issues related to human rights, systemic racism, and climate change. Through exhibitions, programming, and community engagement, they are actively promoting equality and social justice, diversity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Curating Change: A Study of Activism in Museums explores the ways that museums are pursuing these socially conscious practices and becoming active agents of social change. This values-centred and morality-driven work is increasingly being recognized as museum activism.
This thesis further defines the emerging concept of museum activism and offers an in-depth study of activist practice. It explores the ways that museums are contributing to social change movements by increasing public awareness of injustices and elevating the perspectives of the previously marginalized. This critical analysis of museum activism documents the findings of two museum activism practice projects implemented by this researcher in collaboration with two partner museums. One of these was based in Cork, Ireland at Nano Nagle Place. The other was based in Nova Scotia, Canada at the Barrington Museum Complex. The contrasting locations of these two projects was a conscious research decision to capture the transatlantic nature of this study.
In addition to these practice-based projects, this thesis documents and analyzes ten featured in-person museum visits. These include the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts & History in Dublin, Ireland; National Museums Northern Ireland – Ulster Museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland; the Museum of Free Derry in Derry, Northern Ireland; Bristol Museums – M Shed in Bristol, England; Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Cardiff in Cardiff, Wales; the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, Canada; the African American Museum of History and Culture in Washington DC, USA; Whitney Plantation in Louisiana, USA; the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina; and the Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. These museums were selected for their relevance to complex social histories and historic and contemporary social activism. Furthermore, these central case studies are enhanced through a broad range of minor case studies. Some of these were gathered through an additional ten in-person museum visits, while others were gathered through interviews with museum practitioners and intensive literature review. These many supplementary examples aim to capture the broad scope and potential of museum activism.
The combined research activities outlined above, provide context and reveal an array of strategies for the ongoing pursuit and application of activism in museums. This, in turn, informs a comprehensive toolkit of activist foundations and tactics. This practical resource, of which no similar compilation exists, offers inspiration and guidance for museums to better advocate for silenced and marginalized communities, take a stand on important social issues, and help foster a just, equitable, and sustainable global society.
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Keywords
Museums , Activism , Museum activism , Social justice , Social change , Decolonisation , Decolonising musuems , Museums and community , Curatorial activism , Community co-curation
Citation
Allen, S. L. 2024. Curating change: a study of activism in museums. PhD Thesis, University College Cork.