National Museums and Social Relevance

As I have been reading Looking Reality in The Eye over the past couple of weeks I have been so interested in the way that different museums have approached the topic of social responsibility. It seems that museums rely on different criteria in defining what a socially relevant museum looks like depending on their location, content, and stakeholders.

I was very interested by the chapter “One National Museum’s Work to Develop a New Model of National Service: A Work in Progress” by Joanne DiCosimo. This chapter focuses on the Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN) and its challenge of developing “a new model of national service” (p 59). This museum has such a unique definition of what it means to be socially responsible and relevant, and I think this stems from the fact that they see themselves mainly as a national museum. The CMN believes their mission should be inclusive of as many citizens as possible. It is so great to see how museums that don’t revolve around indigenous cultures or controversial ideas can also strive to be relevant in their communities. A lot of times I tend to think of socially responsible museums as institutions that are concerned with wrongdoings and errors of the past and how those can be overcome in the future, but this chapter has shown me that any museum, regardless of content, can work towards making a positive impact on their community.

I appreciate that DiCosimo outlines, in detail, the steps the museum has taken thus far to fulfill its social purpose and determine the unique role that CMN should play in the community. She summarizes their strategic planning sessions, community and institutional partnerships that were constructed, as well as the goals and steps to putting their strategic plan in action. I especially like that the museum conducted polls to determine what issues were important to Canadian citizens as it would be impossible to become relevant to a community without seeking their input.

One question that remains in my mind as the CMN continues to look forward and work towards implementing goals and strategies they identified in their strategic plan is how the government may influence their progress? Since the CMN receives federal funding, the government is a looming stakeholder that could derail plans to improve the museum’s social mission if they don’t agree with the steps being taken or feel that they don’t contribute to the ideals upheld by the government. I feel that the CMN needs to take further steps to communicate closely with the Canadian government and make sure they are on board with the strategic plan the museum has created.

The role of the government at the CMN makes me wonder how the CMN's obstacles to achieving social relevance may differ from that of a non-national museum, such as the East Side Tenement Museum discussed in the chapter “History is as History Does: the Evolution of a Mission-driven Museum”? Whatever the challenges I am happy to hear DiCosimo say that this is a work in progress and the work at the CMN is nowhere near done, it is just getting started.

Social Work of Museums: Chapter One

Silverman’s first chapter discusses the healing power of museums. Through helping individuals make meaning from and with objects they are able to learn more about themselves and the surrounding world. Additionally, museums allow people to gain access social capital through common interests, ultimately aiding a greater civic and democratic identity.

Silverman moves through the five major movements for museums (Mouseoins, Cabinets of curiosities, public museums and settlement house museums, traveling exhibits, and integrated museums, ecomuseums and neighborhood museums). Through this historical framework she indicates how museums have promoted social work practices. Examples are given for everything from traveling health exhibits to describing the philanthropy of cabinets of curiosities.

The concept of museums approaching an individual’s civic and democratic identity is intriguing to me. How can a museum serve a public through developing their social consciousness? How should they facilitate such a transformative experience? The exhibit and public programs appear to serve this purpose through providing an in depth view on selected topics that are (hopefully) related to the public’s needs.

I had never considered the historical depth and breadth of social work in museums. Knowing that museums have, to some degree, tackled social issues helps to build the future context I see for this industry. I hope to use museums as safe spaces which can address community needs with the community through public programs and exhibitions. Silverman’s historical assessment of social work in museums allows me to move forward with my goals knowing that museums are accustomed to such actions and behaviors.