The Role of Museums in a Community Crisis?
Dear Museum Educators,
"The Role of Museums in a Community Crisis," is the working title for my final graduate school paper. I have found the journal "Museums and Social Issues" to be a great resource however I am curious if any of YOU have had any experience with or knowledge of museums' reactions to local community crises?
I am looking for a case study, ideally when the museum's collection or building was not in peril, when a museum has voluntarily offered their community a forum for discussion, or a place for reflection and renewed hope after a conflict, disruption or tragic event?
Some preliminary questions I am hoping to answer in my paper are:
- What is the role of a museum when faced with a community problem or crisis?�
- What can museums do to benefit our community in times of intellectual need, and emotional or psychological distress?�
- How are our institutions expected to react to these situations that affect our constituents but may not necessarily involve our collection or area of expertise?�
- Can museums really afford to do nothing in the face of community upheaval or instability?
- With respect to planning and implementing a museum's response to crisis, how can we build a shared vision and consensus within the museum especially if the community issue is controversial?
I know this is a long list of questions but I am hoping to narrow it down. :)
Thank you for any insights or ideas you may have. I am exploring this issue because I believe part of the amazing potential of museums is their ability to foster communities of informed and involved citizens.
Best regards,
Margaret Aiken
Museum Education graduate student
Tufts University
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