Collections distinguish museums from other cultural institutions, forming the core around which museum activities are typically organized. This section briefly addresses the history of collecting, the changing motivations behind collecting, and the evolving uses of collections, charting the recent shifting emphasis from object-focused to people-focused institutions. It also addresses how collections are increasingly employed by museums to tell stories that engage and facilitate debate. Participatory approaches and object-based learning help museums to engage broader, more diverse audiences and better represent the communities they should serve, locally and globally. Accordingly, the role of the curator is evolving from “keeper” to “storyteller” in ways that will also be discussed.
This module covers the following topics:
This section looks at the changing motivations behind museum collecting, the shift in recent decades from the object to experience, and recent developments in museum practice to make collections more accessible.
MoreMuseum objects have always been associated with stories: be it the story of their maker, owner, or collector; stories about a particular time, place, or culture; or stories about scientific discovery, natural history, or creative practice.
MoreNew museum theory calls upon museums to question whose knowledge should be disseminated and who should make this decision (Lindauer 2006).
MoreStorytelling is an important part of facilitated public programming in museums. Using a wide range of methods and approaches, stories can bring objects, artifacts, and artworks to life as part of tours, workshops, and events.
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