Future of Museums

This kind of "third space" is really a workplace that is not home and not a coffee shop.  Alternative workspaces that draw people out of the homes and give them more and better access to workplace amenities can help people be more productive and create community.

"I'm still looking for someone to generate a 'lingering index' so that we can measure the impact of just plain old hanging out - but that's really at the heart of place-making, and we shouldn't forget it."

Should museums start forming groups to examine long term funding sources?

Is there a trend reversal going on? From focus on Education back to Collections?

Developing a program of traveling exhibitions gives museum a new source of revenue

A tongue-in-cheek presentation of the traditional print-on-paper book as the most convenient device for reading.  Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to embrace all things digital.  What does the future hold for museums and printed publications?

More and more museums are loosing what little govt funding they have. Losing funding affects professional museum staff most of all.

Writer Michael J Sandel's book "What Money Shouldn't Buy" speaks to the growing "marketization" of our society. He asks strong moral questions about paying for access to fundamental parts of our society like equal representation. In this interview he does not address the marketization of arts or culture but I can see some of the warning signs he brings up. Is access to museums up for sale?

Should we be thinking about visitor personality rather than - or in addition to - age and other demographics?  

Are you a Utopian Futurist?  Or a Paster or Presentist?

Trust as economic "lubricant" - should we understand the neurochemicals of our visitors? Will hugs make them feel good about our museums?

Now five years old, this Smithsonian Institution report was created to establish a sense of what the SI's visitorship would be like in 2030.

A 2005 report that does not appear to have a specific long-term focus (as in the future to 2030) but broadly outlines ideas for the "future." Still, this UK association does discuss ideas for improving the management, generally speaking, of museum collections.

This 2007 paper has some interesting general thoughts about sustainability and the future of museums with reference to what museum conservators, curators and others might consider in looking ahead at museum operations.

Though specifically for a Maryland county parks and rec dept, this strategic plan document might be useful for museum professionals who could be involved in similar long-term projects.