Last month, a new TV series called Who Does What? was screened on BBC2. The programme shadows real couples as they go about their day-to-day lives and then analyses who does the most on the domestic front.
But maybe it’s not just bickering couples who row about how to load the dishwasher that need this type of equality audit.
There has been a lot of talk about partnerships between museums over the past few years, and now the idea of linking up to share resources is all the more necessary. But how should these relationships be managed and is it possible to achieve equality, with both parties getting something out of the deal?
There are different models for partnership and some of them are more equal than others. The traditional approach – a national museum sharing some of its objects, or its knowledge, on its terms with a smaller regional museum of its choosing – feels not only dated, but wrong.
The demise of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and its regional agencies has left a gap at local level in terms of leadership, training and support.
Moreover, the changing nature of Renaissance, under which the new core museums will not have any regional responsibilities, will only widen that gap.
Last month, the Museums Association hosted a meeting of representatives from federations from across the UK. The common feeling was that the feds wanted to provide training, networking opportunities and support for museums in their areas, but that they have limited resources to do this.
Some national museums, notably in Liverpool and Wales, are now working with the local federations to increase their capacity to do this kind of work.
There is a striking difference between this more democratic, bottom-up approach and the old-fashioned top-down version – and it as all the makings of a more equal and harmonious type of partnership.
Sharon Heal, editor, Museums Journal
sharon@museumsassociation.org
www.twitter.com/sharonheal
www.museumsassociation.org/conference