Excellent Article in the CSM
Christian Science Monitor
I’d like to take a minute to bring your attention to an excellent article in the Christian Science Monitor (CSM).
The article is called ‘Museums’ new mantra: Connect with community’ and is by Gloria Goodale.
Of particular interest was an brilliant quote from strategist James Chung of ReachAdvisors, who consults for cultural institutions around the globe. I’m not one to usually consider anything anyone who works for a ‘marketing strategy and research firm’ worthy of listening to… I generally agree with Bill Hicks but this statement is on the money:
“It’s not about the collections anymore,”… “It’s about community.”
This fantastic quote exemplifies the significance of the new approach to museology that is so exciting to be a part of. The movement away from the twentieth century vision of museums as warehouses for stuff, towards a new vision for museums as community centers, entertainment spaces… places where in essence the community gathers to use their cultural heritage! The article has a whole host of excellent points and is well worth reading, I think it adds to the growing canon of writings surrounding this idea, many of which I have referenced on this blog before.
I’d like to thank Rachael P. Arenstein for the link, it’s not a newspaper I usually read so I would never have found it.
I’d also like to say I wasn’t aware of the history of the CSM so I checked their wikipedia entry, and its a very interesting article that’s well worth reading.
“Whether it is the impending, state-of-the-art Museum of Tolerance rising in Jerusalem (geared toward unifying a fractured city)…”
Is that the same tolerance museum being built on top of a Muslim graveyard and plans to have a bloody big wall all around it?
Yeah, pretty sure you’re right… But you seem to be saying that like it wont be a case study in tolerance. lol.
I think we need to rethink it… it’s like “see look how intolerant you are, I mean all we did was desecrate your graves and wall you out, now from your reaction I think you could really benefit from our message of tolerance”. rofl.