The 2020 column: It’s time to confer
The three themes at this year’s Museums Association conference (11-12 November) relate to Museums Change Lives and Museums 2020. Tomorrow’s …
The three themes at this year’s Museums Association conference (11-12 November) relate to Museums Change Lives and Museums 2020.
Tomorrow’s World looks at the future of museums from a range of perspectives, including the implications of technology for democratising museums, culminating in a session imagining what a museum would be like if it was designed to meet some of the principles in Museums Change Lives.
The Therapeutic Museum theme looks at how museums can make a lasting difference to the quality of a person’s life, for example through enhancing wellbeing and by working long term with the health and social care sector – both key messages of Museums Change Lives.
At conference, there will be a focus on evidence that museums can make a difference to health and wellbeing. That’s welcome, as when I compiled Museums Change Lives, I found little strong evidence of museums’ impacts; too much of the “evidence” was anecdotal or methodologically weak.
More and better evidence and understanding of what works will be helpful if museums are to work effectively in areas of health and wellbeing.
Museums need rigorously researched studies of impact, so that they can make the case to potential partners and funders. Robust evidence can also help museums focus on those areas in which they can make the most effective difference.
The Emotional Museum looks at how museums can better connect with people’s lives and experiences. Issues addressed include how museums can tackle issues of discrimination.
See you in Liverpool for 48 hours on how museums can enhance wellbeing, create better places and inspire.
Maurice Davies is the head of policy and communication at the Museums Association
Tomorrow’s World looks at the future of museums from a range of perspectives, including the implications of technology for democratising museums, culminating in a session imagining what a museum would be like if it was designed to meet some of the principles in Museums Change Lives.
The Therapeutic Museum theme looks at how museums can make a lasting difference to the quality of a person’s life, for example through enhancing wellbeing and by working long term with the health and social care sector – both key messages of Museums Change Lives.
At conference, there will be a focus on evidence that museums can make a difference to health and wellbeing. That’s welcome, as when I compiled Museums Change Lives, I found little strong evidence of museums’ impacts; too much of the “evidence” was anecdotal or methodologically weak.
More and better evidence and understanding of what works will be helpful if museums are to work effectively in areas of health and wellbeing.
Museums need rigorously researched studies of impact, so that they can make the case to potential partners and funders. Robust evidence can also help museums focus on those areas in which they can make the most effective difference.
The Emotional Museum looks at how museums can better connect with people’s lives and experiences. Issues addressed include how museums can tackle issues of discrimination.
See you in Liverpool for 48 hours on how museums can enhance wellbeing, create better places and inspire.
Maurice Davies is the head of policy and communication at the Museums Association