A website called Culture Geek* recently carried an article which said:
'Concerned, as they are, with history and permanence, museums are not generally in the business of shaking things up. The idea of new blood – a youthful, invigorating force that can re-imagine an organisation – is not usually high on the Trustee agenda at established and venerable institutions. Big changes are often slow, perhaps almost generational, yet these same institutions are perpetually charged with attracting new and different types of audiences.
'In fact, one of the most consistent themes of the past decade or so of museum funding, at least in the UK, has been the push for audience development: how to reach groups that have been underrepresented amongst museum visitors.'
It went on to describe an initiative with young people in Amsterdam.
It is difficult to know how to react to much that is in this piece: it is so contentious. Of course museums are concerned with history: that is what they do. Museums are absolutely about permanence in the sense of preservation for posterity but not in the sense the article suggests: as stasis of interpretation, of unchanging displays or thinking.
'New blood is ... not usually high on Trustees' agendas'. Hardly true given the many training courses for museum staff.
'... a youthful, invigorating force that can re-imagine an organisation' ... try me. Why is 'youthful' the only solution?
'...yet these same institutions are perpetually charged with attracting new and different types of audiences ... how to reach groups that have been underrepresented amongst museum visitors'. Then we reach the nub of the issue and one that is worth talking about in a less emotional, objective and more cooperative manner.
* Culture Geek's mission espouses a lovely piece of puffery: The digital revolution is transforming the world around us, industries are shifting, companies are falling (sic: perhaps they meant 'failing') and keeping up with these changes and how they effect your organisation is a full time job. This seems to be coming from the same stable as one of our earlier postings.
