The Politics of Participation in Museums

The Old Courtroom
118 Church Street, Brighton

As policy makers and funders continue to promote the benefits of participation in museums, how sustainable is this activity in a climate of cuts and short-term funding? Terms such as ‘co-production’, ‘co-curation’ and ‘co-creation’ are commonly used but what do these actually mean and are these participative approaches still viable?

This one-day conference brings together key thinkers and practitioners to debate and challenge ‘the politics of participation’. Contributors will ask hard questions about the reality behind the rhetoric and, through a range of case studies, offer innovative, effective and affordable ideas for the future.

Contributors include David Anderson (National Museum Wales), Bernadette Lynch, Tim Desmond (Galleries of Justice Museum), Piotr Bienkowski, Helen Graham (University of Leeds), Tanya Harris (Hackney Museum), Marc Steene (Pallant House Gallery), Iain Watson (Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums) and Janice Lane (National Museum Wales).

Helen Graham, Research Fellow in Heritage and Director of the Centre for Critical Studies in Museums, Galleries and Heritage (University of Leeds) will take part in one of the conference round tables. Drawing on a recently completed Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project ‘How should decisions about heritage be made?’, Helen will argue that the very political imaginaries of museums and heritage ― ‘forever, for everyone’ ― often get in the way of more democratic participatory practice. In her talk, she will offer specific ways in which ideas of the ‘future’ and ‘everyone’ might be reworked: the ‘future’ might be seen as emerging from collections being alive and used in the present and ‘everyone’ might better be anyone, with objects, collections and themes generating their own decision making constituencies of people who know and care.’

The Politics of Participation on Museums is jointly organised by the Royal Pavilion & Museums and the University of Brighton. See here for further information including how to book a ticket.