From Keepers to Sharers: Evolution or Revolution?

original article in Museum-iD Magazineby Roy Clare, Director of Auckland Museumsummarized by Museum Hack

Museums have always been about their collections; early museums began as the private collections of wealthy individuals.

It used to be enough to open the doors and let people in.

Museums were special.

Places of quiet learning and reflection.

But in recent years, the range of audiences and the scope of their expectations have changed substantially.

Storytelling started to use technology; people loved becoming immersed in the themes, and saw themselves as part of the

production.

Museums keep things.Some museums still describe their curators as ‘keepers’. But audiences need museums to start sharing collections.

Curators need to communicate.Their expertise needs to be shared.

Hobby research and vanity publishing are pointless.

The audiences are the objective.

Audiences want to be part of the story. Crowdsourcing. Lecture programs. Curator-led discussions. Online presence.

Involve the audience.

Keeping and sharing need to be in harmony.

Not everything has to be digital.Collections merit respect and investment.

Visitors still wantthe real thing.

Museums need to be driven by leaders who understand why both keeping and sharing are necessary.

The market has changed and museums need to evolve to stay relevant in modern lives.

Communities that are served by culture and creativity are better places in which to live, to enjoy life. Museums are not obsolete, but times and needs change. Museums evolve; ‘keepers’ become ‘sharers’.

Your audience wants

to be engaged. Museums can inspire people.

Original article written by Roy Clare, Director of the Auckland Museum.

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