Imagining the Future of Museums

Imagining The Future of Museums

Museums are the cornerstones of our communities, hosting millions of visitors in person and virtually while providing meaningful and educational experiences for children, students and adults of all ages. They offer vital platforms for artists – society’s risk-takers, innovators and pioneers – to be seen and heard. Through their collections, programming and facilities, great museums are vibrant community centers as well as must-see destinations.

As with much of the economy, museums have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Alliance of Museums estimates that those in the U.S. are losing $33 million per day because of coronavirus-related closures, affecting some 725,000 jobs. But the cultural impact may be even worse.

How do American museums bounce back? Many have developed a strong online presence, and Google Arts & Culture can take us inside galleries from all around the world. But virtual visits cannot replace the visceral feeling of standing before an original work of art in an exciting physical space and sharing a collective experience with others.

Centers for Disease Control and public health experts provide guidelines outlining how museums can reopen safely, but it depends on architecture and programming. Many museums are limiting their hours of operation and the number of visitors and staff allowed in the galleries.

For example, in order to abide by state reopening guidelines The Met capped admission to 2,000 visitors per hour and 14,000 per day to allow for proper social distancing. Before entering the museum, visitors were directed to two tents on both sides of the Met’s main steps where staff in face shields administered temperature checks.

Movement throughout the museum’s 440 galleries was mostly free, except when entering the exhibit Making The Met. Restroom capacity is limited to three people at a time, and elevator capacity is limited to two, with priority for people with disabilities.

For decades, museums have been changing the perception that they’re static repositories. Creating digital content responsive to their communities – supporting distance learning, research and art appreciation – has been an extraordinary effort by museums. Some are mining their archives, offering virtual cocktails and conversations with curators, and commissioning new digital works.
 
For example, some museums have collaborated with Google Arts and Culture in order to give their visitors the opportunity to tour their exhibitions and view their collections from the safety of their homes.
Between Art and Quarantine: Abigail Paternina’s recreation of the Roman mural painting of Terentius Neo and his wife found in Pompeii ca. 70-79.

Whilst often under-prioritized by the majority of society, arts education provides a crucial part of culture in communities. COVID-19 has provided museums with the opportunity to authentically address diversity, equity, justice and access – to make real change. Museums exploring new ways to connect with their communities, including students and their families; alumni; faculty, administrators and staff; scholars and researchers; art historians; curators; artists; art lovers; collectors; peer institutions; business travelers and tourists; and, of course, residents of their communities.

For example, due to the pandemic many museums have become more digitally accessible for their visitors. Museums have had to rely on social media in order to maintain community outreach and connect with their visitors. This led to the latest international internet craze: recreating works of art with household objects. The Getty Museum, Metropolitan Museum, Rijksmuseum, and Hermitage museum challenged their followers to recreate famous works from their collections. The challenge was inspired by an Instagram account from Amsterdam, @tussenkunstenquarantaine – which translates as “between art and quarantine” from Dutch.

The field may need to explore different economic models to adapt to the “new normal.” A recent survey released by Culture Track found that 61 percent of respondents were aware of financial strains on arts organizations in their area, but only 16 percent considered theirs a funding priority. That said, visitors, members, donors, supporters and funders remain generous because they acknowledge the vital impact that investing in museums has on local and regional constituencies. The arts sector is key to economic vibrancy and recovery. It is important for museums to continue listening to and engaging with their communities. Museums essentially support a resilient, just and equitable society. Because art is a powerful communicator (artists often offer different perspectives on the world) and museums are dynamic conveners, they must flourish – especially in times of crisis – to help provide context for our lives.

“Between Art and Quarantine.” .ART, 28 Apr. 2020, art.art/blog/between-art-and-quarantine.

“What’s next: The Future of Museums.” UCI News, 18 Aug. 2020, news.uci.edu/2020/08/17/whats-next-the-future-of-museums/.