Citizens’ Jury
In October 2024, Birmingham Museums Trust (BMT) commenced its Citizens’ Jury – the first for a museum in the UK, and one of the first globally. As part of BMT’s broader transformation strategy aiming to reinvent the city’s museums as genuinely democratic and inclusive spaces, the Citizens’ Jury model has proven successful in addressing complex issues and driving meaningful change.
5,000 invites were sent out across Birmingham asking people to take part and the jury was then selected to match the key demographics of the city. The jurors heard from commentators on topics they chose, on themes ranging from the organisation’s finances to the wider cultural sector, to help answer the central questions: ‘what does Birmingham need and want from its museums, now and in the future’ and ‘what should Birmingham Museums Trust do to make these things happen’?
“I didn’t know what to expect when I got the leaflet... but I’ve come here and it has changed my mind. I thought it’s old, boring, not worth going, however by seeing it, it has changed my mind and it has made me change my opinions.”
Their answer – alongside a compelling statement on their experience, which spoke of renewed pride in the city – was 10 roles for the museum service and 20 recommendations for action that addressed championing diversity and representing everyday lives, as well as tackling divisive topics and contributing to the economy. The jury shared these at a stakeholder event they planned themselves and via a published report.
At the start of the process around 80% of the jurors felt museums were not for them, not good value for money and had no relevance. By the end of the process, jurors had not only become museum visitors but were asking for more. Jurors are continuing to work with the trust; advocating for it and asking to speak to funders, politicians and the press, to explain the value of museums and the need for investment.
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Citizens' Jury won the Best Museums Change Lives Project award at the Museums Change Lives Awards 2025.
“I’m really hopefully about the future of Brum, I feel really happy that this has taken place. I’ve got so much Brum pride and it’s only growing through this process. I’m really hopeful that other people can see how amazing Brum is because of this.”