Introduction: research


Research is always open ended. Asking basic questions about anything - the what, where, when and why - inevitably leads to further questions. The challenge is to find a focus

01.01.2006

Why research matters


As museums concentrate more on attracting visitors, is the golden age of research in museums past? Laura Gascoigne looks at the state of play

01.01.2006

Planning research


However large or small your museum, it is vital to plan your research projects - know the outcome you want, and how and when it will be achieved

01.01.2006

Facilities for researchers


Allowing researchers as much access as possible to your collections when you have limited space and staff resources requires planning and imagination

01.01.2006

Museum research and academics


Universities are natural research partners for museums - shared interests, complementary skills and lateral thinking mean relationships can flourish

01.01.2006

Case study: researching collections


Margareta Alin explains how Kulturen in Lund, a Swedish open-air museum, works with external experts to ask difficult questions of its collection

01.01.2006

Researching hidden histories


Studying collections and asking questions can produce unexpected results, and uncover histories that have rarely been told

01.01.2006

Case study: researching exhibitions


Morwena Stephens explains how research on 17th-century cloth led to an exhibition on early transatlantic trade routes

01.01.2006